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Elections from 
oswell's 

of Johns 



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DOCTOR JOHNSON 

From an old Print, showing Johnson in the Costume worn 
on his journey to the Hebrides. 



SELECTIONS FROM 
BOSWELL'S 

LIFE OF JOHNSON 



\\ 



EDITED BY NATHANIEL HORTON BATCHELDER, 
SENIOR ENGLISH MASTER, THE HOTCHKISS 
SCHOOL, LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT 




NEW YORK 
CHARLES E. MERRILL COMPANY 






Copyright, 1912 

BY 

CHARLES E. MERRILL CO. 



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CCI.A305828 



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^ INTRODUCTION 



Samuel Johnson has the ahnost unique distinction of 
being an author who is better known than his works. He 
is admittedly the dominant figure in later eighteenth 
century English literature. Professor Barrett Wendell 
speaks of him and Ben Jonson as two men who have pre- 
eminently guided the course of letters, each in his own age. 
Taine speaks of him as ''a strange character, the most 
esteemed of his time, a sort of literary dictator," and adds 
that "his criticism becomes law; men crowd to hear him 
talk; he is the arbiter of style." Yet Rasselas, the Vanity 
of Human Wishes and even the Lives of the Poets are likely 
to remain unopened, while the works of his certainly 
lesser contemporary, Goldsmith, who looked up to John- 
son as a patron and protector, are widely read. The rea- 
son for this neglect may be found again in Taine, who says 
of his style: "Classical prose attains its perfection in him 
as classical poetry in Pope. Art cannot be more con- 
summate or nature more forced"; and of his matter: "His 
truths are too true; we already knew his precepts by 
heart." Indeed, both substance and style are out of date. 

It is not necessary, then, for the pupil to read much of 
the works of Johnson — a chapter or two of Rasselas and 
a typical passage from the Lives of the Poets, — on Addison, 
for instance — are quite sufficient to show the philosophy, 
the critical judgment, and the style of Johnson as a writer. 
But of the man himself more must be said. He who could 

3 



4 INTRODUCTION 

dominate an assemblage in which sat Reynolds, the great- 
est portrait painter, Burke, the greatest orator, Gibbon, 
the greatest historian, and Goldsmith, the greatest author 
of light literature, of the period, must needs be worth our 
study. Nor was Johnson attractive to men alone. Miss 
Burney imitated his style and had the warmest personal 
regard for him, while the fickle and flippant Mrs. Thrale 
made him as welcome at her entertainments as did her 
worthy husband. 

Fortunately the material for this study is at hand in the 
work of James Boswell. The character and ability of 
Boswell have received the most varied judgments. Ma- 
caulay has nothing but contempt for Boswell as a man, 
though he grants that his work will be read as long as 
the English language exists. George Birkbeck Hill, a more 
favorable critic, speaks of him as "the man whose ripened 
genius was to place him at the very head of all the bi- 
ographers of whom the world can boast." 

The purpose of this volume is to give the student the 
material necessary to judge for himself of this greatest 
of biographies and its author, as well as to furnish informa- 
tion about Johnson and other eighteenth century men of 
letters. For that reason, criticism is reduced to a mini- 
mum in both introduction and notes. 

Some few facts in the life of Boswell should be known. 
He was born in Edinburgh, October 29, 1740, thirty-one 
years after Johnson was born in Lichfield. His father was 
a judge of the Court of Sessions, and bore the title of 
Lord Auchinleck, to which the son succeeded. In the 
letter from Johnson to Boswell on the death of his father 
(p. 78), one may get a sufficient idea of the importance 
and responsibility of that position. The son was destined 



INTRODUCTION 5 

for his father's profession and studied at Edinburgh, Glas- 
gow, and the University of Utrecht. Lacking both the 
native love for the law and the pressure of necessity, he 
never practised assiduously. 

Boswell's tastes led him rather to travel and to litera- 
ture. At one time or another he journeyed to Germany, 
Switzerland, Italy, Corsica, and, in company with John- 
son, to the Hebrides. The fruits of these travels were 
two works. An Account of Corsica (1768), which was 
translated into several languages, and the Journal of a 
Tour to the Hebrides (1785). 

His bent for literature led him to seek introductions to 
many of the most prominent men of the time. First 
among these was Samuel Johnson, whom he met May 16, 
1763, when Johnson was already fifty-four years of age. 
It has been computed that Boswell was in the company 
of Johnson on only two hundred and seventy-six days in 
all, yet his industry in collecting anecdotes and informa- 
tion about him was so great that he has written probably 
the most minute and intimate biography that we have 
in all literature. This biography alone has made Boswell 
famous. 

TO THE TEACHER 

This little volume springs from a conviction that it is 
poor school-teaching to ask a pupil to accept another's 
opinion on an author or his work, even when that other is 
a Macaulay, if the material is at hand to enable him to 
form an opinion for himself. Macaulay's Essay on John- 
son is one of the most widely read classics in our school 
courses. In connection with the study of it, one may 
reasonably expect that the pupil will form, first, a correct 



6 INTRODUCTION 

opinion of Johnson and his place in Enghsh literature; 
second, an estimate of other men of letters of that time; 
and, third, a critical appreciation of Macaulay's style as 
biographer and critic. 

Suppose our immediate task is the first of these. Shall 
we not do well to supplement Macaulay's statements 
about the piety and filial devotion of Johnson by reading 
some of the prayers, and the beautiful and pathetic letters 
to his mother? 

Under the second head we necessarily consider Boswell. 
Certainly after reading that he ^'was a coxcomb and a 
bore, weak, vain, pushing, curious," we should let Boswell 
himself speak of his first meeting with Johnson and other 
similar incidents. 

If we would form a critical opinion of Macaulay's style, 
no method can be more instructive than that of compari- 
son with a work on the same subject but in an entirely 
different manner. 

These three instances will indicate the purpose of these 
Selections and the method of using them. They are 
intended primarily as a source book in connection with the 
study of Macaulay or other works on Johnson and his 
period. The choice of passages has been dictated by per- 
sonal experience. Most of them have been used in the 
editor's classes, where selections were read parallel with 
the parts of Macaulay's essay on the same topics. With 
the aid of the index, this method may easily be followed, 
parallel passages being assigned for reading outside the 
class, or read aloud for the first time by the teacher in the 
classroom. If it seems more desirable, the study of Ma- 
caulay can be completed, and the impression made by 
his essay can then be modified by reading Boswell. 



INTRODUCTION 7 

In either case, there should be much discussion, orally 
or in writing, of many points, such as the merits of Boswell 
and Macaulay as biographers, Boswell as a critic, and so 
on. To this end, such a passage as the one in which Bos- 
well discusses the writings of Johnson and Addison (p. 17) 
should prove fruitful as throwing light upon Johnson and 
Addison and also on Boswell's capacity as a critic. 

The selections appear here in the same order as in the 
original, the page and volume numbers referring to the 
edition by Augustine Birrell. 



SELECTIONS FROM 
BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

1709 

Samuel Johnson was born at Lichfield, in Staf- 
fordshire, on the 18th of September, N. S. 1709; 
and his initiation into the Christian Church was 
not delayed; for his baptism is recorded in the 
register of St. Mary's parish in that city, to have 
been performed on the day of his birth: his father 
is there styled Gentleman, a circumstance of which 
an ignorant panegyrist has praised him for not 
being proud, when the truth is that the appellation 
of Gentleman, though now lost in the indiscrimi- 
nate assumption of Esquire, was commonly taken by 
those who could not boast of gentility. His father 
was Michael Johnson, a native of Derbyshire, of 
obscure extraction, who settled in Lichfield as a 
bookseller and stationer. His mother was Sarah 
Ford, descended from an ancient race of substantial 
yeomanry in Warwickshire. They were well ad- 
vanced in years when they married, and never had 
more than two children, both sons; Samuel, their 
first-born, who lived to be the illustrious character 
whose various excellence I am to endeavour to 

9 



10 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

record, and Nathanael, who died in his twenty- 
fifth year. 

Mr. Michael Johnson was a man of large and ro- 
bust body, and of a strong and active mind; yet, 
as in the most sohd rocks veins of unsound sub- 
stance are often discovered, there was in him a mix- 
ture of that disease, the nature of which eludes the 
most minute inquiry, though the effects are well 
known to be a weariness of life, an unconcern about 
those things which agitate the greater part of man- 
kind, and a general sensation of gloomy wretched- 
ness. From him then his son inherited, with some 
other quahties, " Si vile melancholy," which in his 
too strong expression of any disturbance of the 
mind, ''made him mad all his life, at least not 
sober." Michael was, however, forced by the nar- 
rowness of his circumstances to be very dihgent in 
business, not only in his shop, but by occasionally 
resorting to several towns in the neighbourhood, 
some of which were at a considerable distance from 
Lichfield. At that time booksellers' shops, in the 
provincial towns of England, were very rare; so that 
there was not one even in Birmingham, in which 
town old Mr. Johnson used to open a shop every 
market-day. He was a pretty good Latin scholar, 
and a citizen so creditable as to be made one of the 
magistrates of Lichfield; and being a man of good 
sense, and skill in his trade, he acquired a reason- 
able share of wealth, of which, however, he after- 
wards lost the greatest part, by engaging unsuc- 



BOSW ELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 11 

cessfully in a manufacture of parchment. He was 
a zealous highchurchman and royalist, and retained 
his attachment to the unfortunate house of Stuart, 
though he reconciled himself, by casuistical argu- 
ments of expediency and necessity, to take the oaths 
imposed by the prevailing power. — Vol. I, p. 10. 

1712 — .ffit. 3 

Of the power of his memory, for which he was 
all his life eminent to a degree almost incredible, 
the following early instance was told me in his 
presence at Lichfield, in 1776, by his step-daughter, 
Mrs. Lucy Porter, as related to her by his mother. 
When he was a child in petticoats, and had learnt 
to read, Mrs. Johnson one morning put the Com- 
mon Prayer Book into his hands, pointed to the 
collect for the day, and said, ''Sam, you must get 
this by heart." She went upstairs, leaving him to 
study it; but by the time she had reached the second 
floor, she heard him following her. ''What's the 
matter?" said she. "I can say it," he replied; 
and repeated it distinctly, though he could not 
have read it more than twice. — Vol. I, p. 15. 

1712 — ^t. 3 

He was only thirty months old when he was 
taken to London to be touched for the evil. During 
this visit, he tells us, his mother purchased for him 
a small silver cup and spoon. "The cup," he af- 
fectingly adds, "was one of the last pieces of plate 
which dear Tetty sold in our distress. I have now, 



12 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

the spoon. She bought at the same time two tea- 
spoons, and till my manhood, she had no more." 
(Note by Malone.) — Vol. I, p. 18. 

1729 — ^t. 20 

Dr. Adam Smith, than whom few were better 
judges on this subject, once observed to me that 
''Johnson knew more books than any man aUve." 
He had a peculiar facility in seizing at once what 
was valuable in any book without submitting to 
the labour of perusing it from beginning to end. 
He had, from the irritability of his constitution at 
all times, an impatience and hurry when he either 
read or wrote. A certain apprehension arising from 
novelty made him write his first exercise at Col- 
lege twice over, but he never took that trouble 
with any other composition, and we shall see that 
his most excellent works were struck off at a heat, 
with rapid exertion. — Vol. I, p. 43. 

1729 — Mt. 20 

Dr. Adams told me that Johnson, while he was 
at Pembroke College, ''was caressed and loved by 
all about him, was a gay and frolicsome fellow, and 
passed there the happiest part of his life." But 
this is a striking proof of the fallacy of appearances, 
and how little any of us know of the real internal 
state even of those whom we see most frequently, 
for the truth is that he was then depressed by 
poverty and irritated by disease. When I mentioned 
to him this account as given me by Dr. Adams he 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON Hi 

said, '^Ah, sir, I was mad and violent. It was 
bitterness which they mistook for frohc. I was 
miserably poor, and I thought to fight my way by 
my literature and my wit, so I disregarded all power 
and all authority." — Vol. I, p. 45. 

nZl — Mt. 22 

The res angusta donii prevented him from having 
the advantage of a complete academical education. 
The friend to wliom he had trusted for support had 
deceived him. His debts in College, though not 
great, were increasing; and his scanty remittances 
from Lichfield, which had all along been made 
with great difficulty, could be supplied no longer, 
his father having fallen into a state of insolvency. 
Compelled, therefore, by irresistible necessity, he 
left the College in autumn 1731, without a degree, 
having been a member of it little more than three 
years. — Vol. I, p. 48. 

1736 — .ffit. 27 

I know not for what reason the marriage ceremony 
was not performed at Birmingham; but a resolution 
w^as taken that it should be at Derby, for which 
place the bride and bridegroom set out on horse- 
back, I suppose in very good humor. But though 
Mr. Topham Beauclerk used archly to mention 
Johnson's having told him, with much gravity, '^Sir, 
it was a love marriage on both sides," I have had 
from my illustrious friend the following curious ac- 



14 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

count of their journey to church upon the nuptial 
morn (9th July): — ''Sir, she had read the old 
romances, and had got into her head the fantastical 
notion that a woman of spirit should use her lover 
like a dog. So, sir, at first she told me that I rode 
too fast, and she could not keep up with me, and, 
when I rode a little slower, she passed me, and com- 
plained that I lagged behind. I was not to be made 
the slave of caprice; and I resolved to begin as I 
meant to end. I therefore pushed on briskly, till 
I was fairly out of her sight. The road lay between 
two hedges, so I was sure she could not miss it; and 
I contrived that she should soon come up with me. 
When she did, I observed her to be in tears." 

This, it must be allowed, was a singular beginning 
of connubial felicity; but there is no doubt that 
Johnson, though he thus showed a manly firmness, 
proved a most affectionate and indulgent husband 
to the last moment of Mrs. Johnson's life: and in 
his Prayers and Meditations, we find remarkable 
evidence that his regard and fondness for her never 
ceased, even after her death. — Vol. I, p. 65. 

1736 — -ffit. 27 

Johnson was not more satisfied with his situation 
as the master of an academy, than with that of the 
usher of a school; we need not wonder, therefore, 
that he did not keep his academy above a year and 
a half. From Mr. Garrick's account he did not 
appear to have been profoundly reverenced by his 



BOSW ELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 15 

pupils. His oddities of manner, and uncouth ges- 
ticulations, could not but be the subject of merri- 
ment to them; and in particular, the young rogues 
used to listen at the door . . . and peep through 
the key-hole, that they might turn into ridicule 
his tumultuous and awkward fondness for Mrs. 
Johnson, whom he used to name by the familiar 
appellation of Tetty or Tetsey, which, hke Betty or 
Betsey, is provincially used as a contraction for 
Elizabeth, her Christian name, but which to us 
seems ludicrous, when applied to a woman of her 
age and appearance. Mr. Garrick described her 
to me as very, fat . . . with swelled cheeks, of a 
florid red, produced by thick painting, and increased 
by the liberal use of cordials; flaring and fantastic 
in her dress, and affected both in her speech and 
her general behaviour. I have seen Garrick exhibit 
her, by his exquisite talent of mimicry, so as to 
excite the heartiest bursts of laughter; but he, prob- 
ably, as is the case in all such representations, con- 
siderably aggravated the picture. — Vol. I, p. 67. 

1737 — .ffit. 28 

Both of them [Garrick and Johnson] used to talk 
pleasantly of this their first journey to London. 
Garrick, evidently meaning to embellish a little, 
said one day in my hearing, ''we rode and tied." 
And the Bishop of Killaloe (Dr. Barnard) informed 
me, that at another time, when Johnson and Gar- 
rick were dining together in a pretty large company, 



10 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

Johnson humorously ascertaining the chronology of 
something, expressed himself thus: ''That was the 
year when I came to London with twopence half- 
penny in my pocket." Garrick overhearing him, 
exclaimed, "Eh? what do you say? with twopence 
halfpenny in your pocket?" — Johnson: "Why yes; 
when I came with twopence halfpenny in my pocket, 
and thou, Davy, with three halfpence in thine." 

Vol. I, p. 70. 
1737 — ^t. 28 

His Ofellus, in the Art oj Living i7i London, I 
have heard him relate, was an Irish painter, whom 
he knew at Birmingham, and who had practised his 
own precepts of economy for several years in the 
British capital. He assured Johnson, who, I sup- 
pose, was then meditating to try his fortune in Lon- 
don, but was apprehensive of the expense, "that 
thirty pounds a year was enough to enable a man to 
live there without being contemptible. Pie allowed 
ten pounds for clothes and linen. He said a man 
might hve in a garret at eighteen pence a week; 
few people would inquire where he lodged; and if 
they did, it was easy to say, ' Sir, I am to be found 
at such a place.' By spending threepence in a 
coffee-house, he might be for some hours every day 
in very good companj^; he might dine for sixpence, 
breakfast on bread and milk for a penny, and do 
without supper. On clean shirt day he went abroad, 
and paid visits." I have heard him more than once 
talk of his frugal friend, whom he recollected with 



BOSWELU^ LIFE OF JOHNSON 17 

esteem and kindness, and did not like to have one 
smile at the recital. ^'This man (said he gravely) 
was a very sensible man, who perfectly understood 
common affairs: a man of a great deal of knowledge 
of the world, fresh from life, not strained through 
books." — Vol. I, p. 73. 

1750 — ^t. 41 

It has of late been the fashion to compare the 
style of Addison and Johnson, and to depreciate, 
I think, very unjustly, the style of Addison as nerve- 
less and feeble, because it has not the strength and 
energy of that of Johnson. Their prose may be 
balanced like the poetry of Dry den and Pope. 
Both are excellent, though in different ways. Addi- 
son writes with the ease of a gentleman. Plis read- 
ers fancy that a wise and accomplished companion 
is talking to them; so that he insinuates his senti- 
ments and taste into their minds by an imperceptible 
influence. Johnson writes like a teacher. He dic- 
tates to his readers as if from an academical chair. 
They attend with awe and admiration; and his pre- 
cepts are impressed upon them by his commanding 
eloquence. Addison's style, like a light wine, pleases 
everybody from the first. Johnson's, like a liquor 
of more body, seems too strong at first, but by de- 
grees is highly relished; and such is the melody of 
his periods, so much do they captivate the ear, and 
seize upon the attention, that there is scarcely any 
writer, however inconsiderable, who does not aim^ 



18 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

in some degree, at the same species of excellence. 
But let us not ungratefully undervalue that beauti- 
ful style, which has pleasingly conveyed to us much 
instruction and entertainment. Though compara- 
tively weak, opposed to Johnson's Herculean vigour, 
let us not call it positively feeble. Let us remember 
the character of his style, as given by Johnson him- 
self ^ : — ^'What he attempted, he performed; he 
is never feeble, and he did not wish to be energetic; 
he is never rapid, and he never stagnates. His 
sentences have neither studied amplitude, nor af- 
fected brevity: his periods, though not diligently 
rounded, are voluble and easy. Whoever wishes to 
attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and 
elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and 
nights to the volumes of Addison." — Vol. I, p. 180. 

1752 — -ffit. 43 

His acquaintance with Bennet Langton, Esq., of 
Langton, in Lincolnshire, another much-valued 
friend, commenced soon after the conclusion of his 
Rambler; which that gentleman, then a youth, had 
read with so much " admiration, that he came to 
London chiefly with a view of endeavouring to be 
introduced to its author. Mr. Langton was exceed- 
ingly surprised when the sage first appeared. He 
had not received the smallest intimation of his 
figure, dress, or manner. From perusing his writ- 

1 The passage quoted is from the life of Addison in The 
Lives of the Poets, 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 19 

ings, he fancied he should see a decent, well-dressed, 
in short, a remarkably decorous philosopher. In- 
stead of which, down from his bed-chamber about 
noon came, as newly risen, a huge uncouth figure, 
with a little dark wig which scarcely covered his 
head, and his clothes hanging loose about him. 
But his conversation was so rich, so animated, and 
so forcible, and his religious and political notions 
so congenial with those in which Langton had been 
educated, that he conceived for him that venera- 
tion and attachment which he ever preserved. John- 
son was not the less ready to love Mr. Langton, 
for his being of a very ancient family; for I have 
heard him say, with pleasure, '^Langton, sir, has a 
grant of free warren from Henry the Second; and 
Cardinal Stephen Langton, in King John's reign, 
was of his family." 

Mr. Langton afterwards went to pursue his stud- 
ies at Trinity College, Oxford, where he formed 
an acquaintance with his fellow-student, Mr. Top- 
ham Beauclerk; who, though their opinions and 
modes of life were so different, that it seemed ut- 
terly improbable that they should at all agree, had 
so ardent a love of literature, so acute an under- 
standing, such elegance of manners, and so well 
discerned the excellent qualities of Mr. Langton, a 
gentleman eminent not only for worth and learning, 
but for an inexhaustible fund of entertaining con- 
versation, that they became intimate friends. 

Johnson, soon after this acquaintance began, 



20 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

passed a considerable time at Oxford. He at first 
thought it strange that Langton should associate 
so much with one who had the character of being 
loose, both in his principles and practice: but, by 
degrees, he himself was fascinated. Mr. Beauclerk's 
being of the St. Alban's family, and having, in some 
particulars, a resemblance to Charles the Second, 
contributed in Johnson's imagination to throw a 
lustre upon his other qualities; and in a short time, 
the moral, pious Johnson, and the gay, dissipated 
Beauclerk, were companions. ''What a coahtion!" 
(said Garrick, when he heard of this) "I shall have 
my old friend to bail out of the Roundhouse." In- 
numerable were the scenes in which Johnson was 
amused by these young men. Beauclerk could 
take more liberty with him than anybody with whom 
I ever saw him; but, on the other hand, Beauclerk 
was not spared by his respectable companion, when 
reproof was proper. 

Johnson was some time with Beauclerk at his 
house at Windsor, where he was entertained with 
experiments in natural philosophy. One Sunday, 
when the weather was very fine, Beauclerk enticed 
him, insensibly, to saunter about all the morning. 
They went into a churchyard, in the time of divine 
service, and Johnson laid himself down at his ease 
upon one of the tombstones. ''Now, sir" (said 
Beauclerk), "you are like Hogarth's Idle Appren- 
tice." When Johnson got his pension, Beauclerk 
said to him, in the humorous phrase of Falstaff, 



I 



BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 21 

''I hope you'll now purge and live cleanly, like a 
gentleman." 

One night when Beauclerk and Langton had 
supped at a tavern in London, and sat till about 
three in the morning, it came into their heads to 
go and knock up Johnson, and see if they could 
prevail on him to join them in a ramble. They 
rapped violently at the doors of his chambers in 
the Temple, till at last he appeared in his shirt, 
with his httle black wig on the top of his head 
instead of a nightcap, and a poker in his hand, 
imagining, probably, that some ruffians were com- 
ing to attack him. When he discovered who they 
were, and was told their errand, he smiled, and with 
great good humour agreed to their proposal: "What, 
is it you, you dogs! I'll have a frisk with you." 
He was soon dressed, and they sallied forth together 
into Covent Garden, where the green-grocers and 
fruiterers were beginning to arrange their hampers, 
just come in from the country. Johnson made some 
attempts to help them; but the honest gardeners 
stared so at his figure and manner, and odd inter- 
ference, that he soon saw his services were not 
relished. They then repaired to one of the neigh- 
bouring taverns, and made a bowl of that liquor 
called Bishop, which Johnson had always hked; 
while in joyous contempt of sleep, from which he 
had been roused, he repeated the festive lines, 

"Short, O short then be thy reign, 
And give us to the world again." 



22 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

They did not stay long, but walked down to the 
Thames, took a boat and rowed to Billingsgate. 
Beauclerk and Johnson were so well pleased with 
their amusement, that they resolved to persevere 
in dissipation for the rest of the day: but Langton 
deserted them, being engaged to breakfast with 
some young ladies. Johnson scolded him for '^leav- 
ing his social friends, to go and sit with a set of 
wretched unidea'd girls." Garrick being told of 
this ramble, said to him smartly, ''I heard of your 
froHc t'other night. You'll be in the Chronicle.'' 
Upon which Johnson afterwards observed, "He 
durst not do such a thing. His wife would not let 
him!" — Vol. I, p. 199. 

1754 — ^t. 45 

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF 
CHESTERFIELD 

''February 7, 1755. 

''My Lord, — I have been lately informed, by 
the proprietor of the World, that two papers, in 
which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, 
were written by your Lordship. To be so distin- 
guished is an honour, which, being very little ac- 
customed to favours from the great, I know not 
well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowl- 
edge. 

''When, upon some sHght encouragement, I first 
visited your Lordship, I was overpowered, like the 



BO&WELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 23 

rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your ad- 
dress, and could not forbear to wish that I might 
boast myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre; 
— that I might obtain that regard for which I saw 
the world contending; but I found my attendance 
so little encouraged that neither pride nor modesty 
would suffer me to continue it. When I had once 
addressed your Lordship in public I had exhausted, 
all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly 
scholar can possess. I had done all that I could; 
and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, 
be it ever so little. 

''Seven years, my Lord, have now passed since 
I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed 
from your door; during which time I have been 
pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it 
is useless to complain, and have brought it at last 
to the verge of publication, without one act of as- 
sistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile 
of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I 
never had a Patron before. 

"The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted 
with Love, and found him a native of the rocks. 

"Is not a Patron, my Lord, one who looks with 
unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, 
and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him 
with help? The notice which you have been pleased 
to take of my labours, had it been early, had been 
kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, 
and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary, and cannot 



24 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I 
hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess 
obligations where no benefit has been received, or 
to be unwilling that the public should consider me 
as owing that to a Patron, which Providence has 
enabled me to do for myself. 

''Having carried on my work thus far with so 
little obhgation to any favourer of learning, I shall 
not be disappointed though I should conclude it, 
if less be possible, with less; for I have been long 
awakened from that dream of hope, in which I once 
boasted myself with so much exultation, my Lord, — 

''Your Lordship's most humble, most obedient 
servant, 

"Sam. Johnson." 
Vol. I, p. 212. 

1755 — ^t. 46 

[The letter from the Chancellor of Oxford, recom- 
mending Johnson for the degree of Master of Arts.] 

TO THE KEVEREND DR. HUDDESFORD, VICE-CHAN- 
CELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD; TO BE 
COMMUNICATED TO THE HEADS OF HOUSES, AND 
PROPOSED IN CONVOCATION 

"Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, — Mr. 
Samuel Johnson, who was formerly of Pembroke 
College, having very eminently distinguished him- 
self by the publication of a series of essays, excel- 
lently calculated to form the manners of the people, 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 25 

and in which the cause of religion and morahty is 
everywhere maintained by the strongest powers of 
argument and language; and who shortly intends to 
publish a Dictionary of the English tongue formed 
on a new plan, and executed with the greatest labour 
and judgment; I persuade myself that I shall act 
agreeable to the sentiments of the whole University 
in desiring that it may be proposed in convocation 
to confer on him the degree of Master of Arts by 
diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am, 
Mr. Vice-Chancellor and Gentlemen, your affection- 
ate friend and servant, 

*'Arran. 
''Grosvenor Street, Feb. 4, 1755." 

Vol. I, p. 229. 

1759 — ^t. 50 

In 1759, in the month of January, his mother 
died, at the great age of ninety, an ev.ent which 
deeply affected him; not that " his mind had acquired 
no firmness by the contemplation of mortality"; but 
that his reverential affection for her was not abated 
by years, as indeed he retained all his tender feelings 
even to the latest period of his life. I have been 
told that he regretted much his not having gone to 
visit his mother for several years previous to her 
death. But he was constantly engaged in literary 
labours which confined him to London; and though 
he had not the comfort of seeing his aged parent, 
he contributed liberally to her support. 



26 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

TO MRS. JOHNSON, AT LICHFIELD 

''Honoured Madam, ~ The account Miss [Porter] 
gives me of your health, pierces my heart. God 
comfort and preserve you, and save you, for the sake 
of Jesus Christ. 

''I would have Miss read to you from time to 
time the Passion of our Saviour, and sometimes the 
sentences in the communion service, beginning — 
Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and 
I will give you rest. 

^'I have just now read a physical book, which in- 
clines me to think that a strong infusion of the 
bark would do you good. Do, dear mother, try it. 

"Pray send me your blessing, and forgive all 
that I have done amiss to you. And whatever you 
would have done, and what debts you w^ould have 
paid first, or anything else you would direct, let 
Miss put it down; I shall endeavour to obey you. 

''I hav6 got twelve guineas to send you, but un- 
happily am at a loss how to send it to-night. If I 
cannot send it to-night, it will come by the next post. 

''Pray, do not omit anything mentioned in this 
letter. God bless you for ever and ever. I am, 
your dutiful son, 

"Sam. Johnson. 
"Jan. 13, 1759." 

"Dear honoured Mother, — Your weakness af- 
flicts me beyond what I am willing to communi- 
cate to you. I do not think you unfit to face death, 



WSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 27 

but 1 know not how to bear the thought of losing 
you. Endeavour to do all you [can] for yourself. 
Eat as much as you can. 

'^I pray often for you; do you pray for me. I 
have nothing to add to my last letter. ■ — I am, 
dear mother, your dutiful son, 

"Sam. Johnson. 
^'Jan. 16, 1759." 

Dear honoured Mother, — Neither j^our condition 
nor your character make it fit for me to say much. 
You have been the best mother, and I believe the 
best woman in the world. T thank you for your 
indulgence to me, and beg forgiveness of all that I 
have done ill, and all that I have omitted to do 
well. God grant you his Holy Spirit, and receive 
you to everlasting happiness, for Jesus Christ's sake, 
Amen. Lord Jesus receive your spirit, Amen. — I 
am, dear, dear mother, your dutiful son, 

"Sam. Johnson. 
"Jan. 20, 1759." 

TO MISS PORTER, IN LICHFIELD 

"You will conceive my sorrow for the loss of my 
mother, of the best mother. If she were to live 
again, surely I should behave better to her. But 
she is happy, and what is past is "nothing to her; 
and for me, since I cannot repair my faults to her, 
I hope repentance will efface them. I return you 
and all those that have been good to her my sin- 



28 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

cerest thanks, and pray God to repay you all with 
infinite advantage. Write to me, and comfort me, 
dear child. I shall be glad likewise, if Kitty will 
write to me. I shall send a bill of £20 in a few 
days, which I thought to have brought to my 
mother; but God suffered it not. I have not power 
or composure to say much more. God bless you, 
and bless us all. — I am, dear Miss, your affectionate 
humble servant, 

''Sam. Johnson. 
''Jan. 23, 1759." 

Vol. II, p. 12. 

1762 — .ffit. 63 

The accession of George the Third to the throne 
of these kingdoms opened a new and brighter 
prospect to men of literary merit, who had been 
honoured with no mark of royal favour in the pre- 
ceding reign. His present Majesty's education in 
this country, as well as his taste and beneficence, 
prompted him to be the patron of science and the 
arts; and early this year, Johnson having been repre- 
sented to him as a very learned and good man, with- 
out any certain provision, his Majesty was pleased to 
grant him a pension of three hundred pounds a 
year. . . . 

Sir Joshua Reynolds told me that Johnson called 
on him after his Majesty's intention had been noti- 
fied to him, and said he wished to consult his friends 
as to the propriety of his accepting this mark of 



BOS WELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 29 

the royal favour, after the definitions which he had 
given in his Dictionary of pension and pensioners. 
He said he should not have Sir Joshua's answer 
till the next day, when he would call again, and 
desired he might think of it. Sir Joshua answered 
that he was clear to give his opinion then, that 
there could be no objection to his receiving from 
the King a reward for literary merit; and that cer- 
tainly the definitions in his Dictionary were not 
applicable to him. Johnson, it should seem, was 
satisfied, for he did not call again till he had accepted 
the pension, and waited on Lord Bute to thank 
him. He then told Sir Joshua that Lord Bute said 
to him expressly, "It is not given you for anything 
you are to do, but for what you have done." 

Vol. II, p. 42. 

1762 — ^t. 53 

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF BUTE 

"My Lord, — When the bills were yesterday de- 
livered to me by Mr. Wedderburne, I was informed 
by him of the future favours which his Majesty 
has, by your Lordship's recommendation, been in- 
duced to intend for me. 

"Bounty always receives part of its value from 
the manner in which it is bestowed; your Lordship's 
kindness includes every circumstance that can 
gratify delicacy or enforce obligation. You have 
conferred your favours on a man who has neither 



30 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

alliance nor interest, who has not merited them by 
service, nor courted them by officiousness; you have 
spared him the shame of solicitation and the anxiety 
of suspense. 

''What has been thus elegantly given will, I hope, 
not be reproachfully enjoyed; I shall endeavour to 
give your Lordship the only recompense which 
generosity desires, — the gratification of finding 
that your benefits are not improperly bestowed. — 
I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most obliged, most 
obedient, and most humble servant, 

''Sam. Johnson. 
"July 20, 1762." 

Vol. II, p. 45. 



1762 — .ffit. 53 

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF BUTE 

"My Lord, — That generosity, by which I was 
recommended to the favour of his Majesty, will not 
be offended at a solicitation necessary to make that 
favour permanent and effectual. 

"The pension appointed to be paid me at Michael- 
mas I have not received, and know not where or 
from whom I am to ask it. I beg, therefore, that 
your Lordship will be pleased to supply Mr. Wedder- 
burne with such directions as may be necessary, 
which, I believe, his friendship will make him think 
it no trouble to convey to me. 

"To interrupt your Lordship, at a time hke this, 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 31 

with such petty difficulties, is improper and un- 
seasonable; but your knowledge of the world has 
long since taught you, that every man's affairs, 
however little, are important to himself. Every 
man hopes that he shall escape neglect; and, with 
reason, may every man, whose vices do not pre- 
clude his claim, expect favour from that beneficence 
which has been extended to, my Lord, your Lord- 
ship's most obliged and most humble servant, 

''Sam. Johnson. 
''Temple Lane, Nov. 3, 1762." 

Vol. II, p. 48. 

1763 — mt. 54 

Mr. Thomas Davies was a man of good under- 
standing and talents, with the advantage of a liberal 
education. Though somewhat pompous, he was an 
entertaining companion; and his literary perform- 
ances have no inconsiderable share of merit. He 
was a friendly and very hospitable man. Both he 
and his wife (who has been celebrated for her 
beauty), though upon the stage for many years, 
maintained a uniform, decency of character: and 
Johnson esteemed them, and lived in as easy an 
intimacy with them as with any family he used to 
visit. Mr. Davies recollected several of Johnson's 
remarkable sayings, and was one of the best imitators 
of his voice and manner while relating them. He 
increased my impatience more and more to see the 
extraordinary man whose works I highly valued, 



32 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

and whose conversation was reported to be so 
peculiarly excellent. 

At last, on Monday the 16th of May, when I 
was sitting in Mr. Davies's back parlor, after hav- 
ing drunk tea with him and Mrs. Davies, Johnson 
unexpectedly came into the shop; and Mr. Davies 
having perceived him through the glass door in the 
room in which we were sitting, advancing towards 
us, — he announced his awful approach to me, 
somewhat in the manner of an actor in the part 
of Horatio, when he addresses Hamlet on the ap- 
pearance of his father's ghost, ''Look, my Lord, it 
comes." I found that I had a very perfect idea of 
Johnson's figure, from the portrait of him painted 
by Sir Joshua Reynolds soon after he had published 
his .Dictionary , in the attitude of sitting in his easy- 
chair in deep meditation; which was the first pic- 
ture his friend did for him, which Sir Joshua very 
kindly presented to me, and from which an engrav- 
ing has been made for this work. Mr. Davies men- 
tioned my name, and respectfully introduced me 
to him. I was much agitated; and recollecting his 
prejudice against the Scotch, of which I had heard 
much, I said to Davies, ''Don't tell him where I 
come from." "From Scotland," cried Davies 
roguishly. "Mr. Johnson (said I), I do indeed come 
from Scotland, but I cannot help it." I am willing 
to flatter myself that I meant this as light pleas- 
antry to soothe and conciliate him, and not as a 
humiliating abasement at the expense of my coun- 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 33 

try. But however that might be, this speech was 
somewhat unlucky; for with that quickness of wit 
for which he was so remarkable, he seized the ex- 
pression '' come from Scotland," which I used in the 
sense of being of that country; and, as if I had said 
that I had come away from it, or left it, retorted, 
''That, sir, I find, is what a very great many of 
your countrymen cannot help." This stroke stunned 
me a good deal; and when we had sat down I felt 
myself not a little embarrassed and apprehensive of 
what might come next. He then addressed himself 
to Davies: ''What do you think of Garrick? He 
has refused me an order for the play for Miss Wil- 
hams, because he knows the house will be full, and 
that an order would be worth three shillings." 
Eager to take any opening to get into conversation 
with him, I ventured to say, "O, sir, I cannot think 
Mr. Garrick would begrudge such a trifle to you." 
"Sir (said he, with a stern look) I have known David 
Garrick longer than you have done: and I know no 
right you have to talk to me on the subject." . . . 
I was highly pleased with the extraordinary vigour 
of his conversation, and regretted that I was drawn 
away from it by an engagement at another place. 
I had, for a part of the evening, been left alone 
with him, and had ventured to make an observation 
now and then, which he received very civilly; so 
that I was satisfied that though there was a rough- 
ness in his manner there was no ill-nature in his 
disposition. Davies followed me to the door, and 



34 BOSWEWS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

when I complained to him a httle of the hard blows 
which the great man had given me, he kindly took 
upon him to console me by saying, ''Don't be un- 
easy. I can see he Ukes you very well.'' 

A few days afterwards I called on Davies, and 
asked him if he thought I might take the liberty oT 
waiting on Mr. Johnson at his chambers in the 
Temple. He said I certainly might, and that Mr. 
Johnson would take it as a comphment. So upon 
Tuesday the 24th of May, after having been en- 
livened by the witty sallies of Messieurs Thornton, 
Wilkes, Churchill, and Lloyd, with whom I had 
passed the morning, I boldly repaired to Johnson. 
His chambers were on the first floor of No. 1 Inner 
Temple Lane, and I entered them with an impres- 
sion given me by the Rev. Dr. Blair of Edinburgh, 
who had been introduced to him not long before, 
and described his having ''found the Giant in his 
den " ; an expression which, when I came to be pretty 
well acquainted with Johnson, I repeated to him, 
and he was diverted at this picturesque account of 
himself. . . . 

He received me very courteously; but it must be 
confessed that his apartment, and furniture, and 
morning dress were sufficiently uncouth. His brown 
suit of clothes looked very rusty; he had on a little 
old shrivelled unpowdered wig, which was too small 
for his head; his shirt-neck and knees of his breeches 
were loose; his black worsted stockings ill drawn 
up; and he had a pair of unbuckled shoes by way 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 35 

of slippers. But all these slovenly particulars were 
forgotten the moment that he began to talk. 

Vol. II, p. 57. 

1763 — ^t. 64 

As Dr. Ohver Goldsmith will frequently appear in 
this narrative, I shall endeavour to make my read- 
ers in some degree acquainted with his singular 
character. He was a native of Ireland, and a con- 
temporary with Mr. Burke at Trinity College, Dub- 
lin, but did not then give much promise of future 
celebrity. He, however, observed to Mr. Malone, 
that ''though he made no figure in mathematics, 
which was a study in much repute there, he could 
turn an Ode of Horace into English better than any 
of them." He afterwards studied physic at Edin- 
burgh, and upon the Continent, and, I have been 
informed, was enabled to pursue his travels on foot, 
partly by demanding at Universities to enter the 
Hsts as a disputant, by which, according to the 
custom of many of them, he was entitled to the 
premium of a crown, when luckily for him his chal- 
lenge was not accepted; so that, as I once observed 
to Dr. Johnson, he disputed his passage through 
Europe. He then came to England, and was em- 
ployed successively in the capacities of an usher 
to an academy, a corrector of the press, a reviewer, 
and a writer for a newspaper. He had sagacity 
enough to cultivate assiduously the acquaintance 
of Johnson, and his faculties were gradually en- 



36 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

larged by the contemplation of audi a model. To 
me and many others it appeared that he studiously 
copied the manner of Johnson, though, indeed, upon 
a smaller scale. 

. . . No man had the art of displaying with more 
advantage as a writer whatever literary acquisi- 
tions he made. "Nihil quod tetigit non ornavit.''^ 
His mind resembled a fertile, but thin soil. There 
was a quick, but not a strong vegetation, of what- 
ever chanced to be thrown upon it. No deep root 
could be struck. The oak of the forest did not 
grow there; but the elegant shrubbery and the 
fragrant parterre appeared in gay succession. It 
has been generally circulated and believed that he 
was a mere fool in conversation ^; but in truth this 
has been greatly exaggerated. He had, no doubt, 
a more than common share of that hurry of ideas 
which Ave often find in his countr3^men, and which 
sometimes produces a laughable confusion in ex- 
pressing them. He was very much what the French 
call tin etourdi, and from vanity and an eager de- 
sire of being conspicuous wherever he was, he fre- 

^ From the epitaph in Westminster Abbey, written by 
Johnson. 

2 In view of the fact that Boswell is often considered unfair 
to Goldsmith, it is interesting to note that Horace Walpole, 
who admired Goldsmith's writings, spoke of him as "an in- 
spired idiot"; while Garrick once wrote of him as one 

"for shortness call'd Noll, 
Who wrote like an angel, and talk'd like poor Poll." 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 37 

quently talked carelessly without knowledge of the 
subject, or even without thought. His person was 
short, his countenance coarse and vulgar, his deport- 
ment that of a scholar awkwardl}^ affecting the easy 
gentleman. Those who were in any way distin- 
guished excited envy in him to so ridiculous an 
excess that the instances of it are hardly credible. 
When accompanying two beautiful young ladies 
with their mother on a tour in France, he was 
seriously angry that more attention was paid to 
them than to him* and once at the exhibition of 
the Fantoccini in London, when those who sat next 
him observed with what dexterity a puppet was 
made to toss a pike, he could not bear that it should 
have such praise, and exclaimed with some warmth, 
''Pshaw! I can do it better myself." 

... He boasted to me at this time of the power 
of his pen in commanding money, which I beheve 
was true in a certain degree, though in the instance 
he gave he was by no means correct. He told me 
that he had sold a novel for four hundred pounds. 
This was his Vicar of Wakefield. But Johnson in- 
formed me, that he had made the bargain for Gold- 
smith, and the price was sixty pounds. "And, sir, 
(said he), a sufficient price too, when it was sold; 
for then the fame of Goldsmith had not been ele- 
vated, as it afterwards was, by his Traveler; and the 
bookseller had such faint hopes of profit by his bar- 
gain, that he kept the manuscript by him a long 
time, anfl did not publish it till after the Traveler 



38 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

had appeared. Then, to be sure, it was acciden- 
tally worth more money "... I shall give it [the 
story] authentically from Johnson's own authentic 
narration : — 

''I received one morning a message from poor 
Goldsmith that he was in great distress, and as it 
was not in his power to come to me, begging that I 
would come to him as soon as possible. I sent him 
a guinea, and promised to come to him directly. 
I accordingly went as soon as I was drest, and found 
that his landlady had arrested lym for his rent, at 
which he was in a violent passion. I perceived that 
he had already changed my guinea, and had got a 
bottle of Madeira and a glass before him. I put the 
cork into the bottle, desired he would be calm, and 
began to talk to him of the means by which he 
might be extricated. He then told me that he had 
a novel ready for the press, which he produced to 
me. I looked into it, and saw its merit; told the 
landlady I should soon return, and, having gone to 
a bookseller, sold it for sixty pounds. I brought 
Goldsmith the money, and he discharged his rent, 
not without rating his landlady in a high tone for 
having used him so ill." 

. . . He had increased my admiration of the 
goodness of Johnson's heart by incidental remarks 
in the course of conversation; such as, when I men- 
tioned Mr. Levet, whom he entertained under his 
roof, "He is poor and honest, which is recommenda- 
tion enough to Johnson"; and when I wondered 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 39 

that he was very kind to a man of whom I had heard 
a very bad character, ''He is now become miser- 
able, and that insures the protection of Johnson." 

Vol. II, p. 77. 

1763 — Mt. 54 

"Idleness is a disease which must be combated; 
but I would not advise a rigid adherence to a par- 
ticular plan of study. I myself have never persisted 
in any plan for two days together. A man ought to 
read just as inclination leads him; for what he reads 
as a task will do him little good. A young man 
should read five hours in a day, and so may acquire 
a great deal of knowledge." — Vol. II, p. 93. 

^^ 1763 — JEt. 54 

"Why, sir (said he, with a hearty laugh), it is a 
mighty foolish noise that they make. I have ac- 
cepted of a pension as a reward which has been 
thought due to my literary merit; and now that I 
have this pension, I am the same man in every 
respect that I have ever been; I retain the same 
principles. It is true that I cannot now curse (smil- 
ing) the House of Hanover; nor would it be decent 
for me to drink King James's health in the wine 
that King George gives me money to pay for. But, 
sir, I think that the pleasure of cursing the House 
of Hanover, and drinking King James's health, 
are amply overbalanced by £300 a year." 

Vol. II, p. 93. 



40 • BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

1763— -ffit. 54 

''Sir, in my early years I read very hard. It is 
a sad reflection, but a true one, that I knew almost 
as much at eighteen as I do now. My judgment, 
to be sure, was not so good; but I had all the facts. 
I remember very well, when I was at Oxford, an old 
gentleman said to me, 'Young man, ply your book 
diligently now, and acquire a stock of knowledge; 
for when years come unto you, you will find that 
poring upon books will be but an irksome task.'" 

Vol. II, p. 109. 

1763 — ^t. 54 

He again insisted on the duty of maintaining sub- 
ordination of rank. "Sir, I would no more deprive 
a nobleman of his respect than of his money. I 
consider myself as acting a part in the great system 
of society, and I do to others as I would have them 
do to me. I would behave to a nobleman as I should 
expect he would behave to me, were I a nobleman 
and he Sam. Johnson. Sir, there is one Mrs. Ma- 
caulay in this town, a great republican. One day 
when I was at her house I put on a very grave 
countenance, and said to her, 'Madam, I am now 
become a convert to your way of thinking. I am con- 
vinced that all mankind are upon an equal footing; 
and to give you an unquestionable proof, madam, 
that I am in earnest, here is a very sensible, civil, 
well-behaved fellow-citizen, your footman; I desire 
that he may be allowed to sit down and dine with us.' 



BO,S\VELL\S LIFE OF JOHNSON 41 

I thus, sir, showed her the absurdity of her levehng 
doctrine. She has never hked me since. Sir, your 
levelers wish to level down as far as themselves; 
but they cannot bear leveling up to themselves. 
They would all have some people under them; 
why not then have some people above them?" 

Vol. II, p. 110. 

1764 — .ffit. 55 

That the most minute singularities which belonged 
to him, and made very observable parts of his ap- 
pearance and manner, may not be omitted, it is 
requisite to mention, that while talking, or even 
musing as he sat in his chair, he commonly held 
his head to one side towards his right shoulder, and 
shook it in a tremulous manner, moving his body 
backwards and forwards, and rubbing his left knee 
in the same direction with the palm of his hand. 
In the intervals of articulating he made various 
sounds with his mouth, sometimes as if ruminating, 
or what is called chewing the cud, sometimes giving 
half a whistle, sometimes making his tongue play 
backwards from the roof of his mouth, as if clucking 
like a hen, and sometimes protruding it against his 
upper gums in front, as if pronouncing quickly under 
his breath, too, too, too: all this accompanied some- 
times with a thoughtful look, but more frequently 
with a smile. Generally when he had concluded a 
period, in the course of a dispute, by which time he 
was a good deal exhausted by violence and vocif- 



42 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

eration, he used to blow out his breath Hke a whale. 
This I suppose was a relief to his lungs; and seemed 
in him to be a contemptuous mode of expression, 
as if he had made the arguments of his opponent 
fly hke chaff before the wind. — Vol. II, p. 145. 

1765 — JBt. 56 

He appears this year to have been seized with a 
temporary fit of ambition, for he had thoughts both 
of studying law and of engaging in politics. His 
*' Prayer before the Study of Law" is truly admirable: 

''Sept. 26, 1765. 
''Almighty God, the giver of wisdom, without 
whose help resolutions are vain, without whose 
blessing study is ineffectual; enable me, if it be 
Thy will, to attain such knowledge as may qualify 
me to direct the doubtful and instruct the ignorant; 
to prevent wrongs and terminate contentions; and 
grant that I may use that knowledge which I shall 
attain to Thy glory and my own salvation, for 
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." — Vol. II, p. 150. 

1766 — Mt. 56 

"I know no man (said he) who is more master 
of his wife and family than Thrale. If he but holds 
up a finger he is obeyed. It is a great mistake to 
suppose that she is above him in literary attain- 
ments. She is more flippant; but he has ten times 
her learning; he is a regular scholar; but her learning 
is that of a school-boy in one of the lower forms," 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 43 

My readers may naturally wish for some represen- 
tation of the figures of this couple. Mr. Thrale 
was tall, well-proportioned, and stately. As for 
Madam, or my Mistress, by which epithets Johnson 
used to mention Mrs. Thrale, she was short, plump, 
and brisk. She has herself given us a lively view 
of the idea which Johnson had of her person, on 
her appearing before him in a dark-colored gown: 
''You little creatures should never wear those sort 
of clothes, however; they are unsuitable in every 
way. What! have not all insects gay colors?" 
Mr. Thrale gave his wife a liberal indulgence, both 
in the choice of their company, and in the mode of 
entertaining them. He understood and valued 
Johnson, without remission, from their first ac- 
quaintance to the day of his death. Mrs. Thrale 
was enchanted with Johnson's conversation for its 
own sake, and had also a very allowable vanity in 
appearing to be honoured with the attention of so 
celebrated a man. — Vol. II, p. 154. 

1767 — -ffit. 58 

He passed three months at 'Lichfield; and I cannot 
omit an affecting and solemn scene there, as related 
by himself: 

''Sunday, Oct. 18, 1767. — Yesterday, Oct. 17, 
at about ten in the morning I took my leave forever 
of my dear old friend, Catherine Chambers, who 
came to live with my mother about 1724, and has 
been but little parted from us since. She buried 



44 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

my father, my brother, and my mother. She is 
now fifty-eight years old. 

"I desired all to withdraw, then told her that we 
were to part forever; that as Christians we should 
part with prayer; and that I would, if she was will- 
ing, say a short prayer beside her. She expressed 
great desire to hear me; and held up her poor hands, 
as she lay in bed, with great fervour, while I prayed, 
kneeling beside her, nearly in the following words: 

'''Almighty and most merciful Father, whose 
loving kindness is over all thy works, behold, visit 
and relieve this thy servant, who is grieved with 
sickness. Grant that the sense of her weakness 
may add strength to her faith and seriousness to her 
repentance. And grant that by the help of thy Holy 
Spirit, after the pains and labours of this short life, 
we may all obtain everlasting happiness, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord, for whose sake hear our pray- 
ers. Amen. Our Father, etc' 

"I then kissed her. She told me that to part 
was the greatest pain that she had ever felt, and 
that she hoped we should meet again in a better 
place. I expressed, with swelled eyes, and great 
emotion of tenderness, the same hopes. We kissed, 
and parted, I humbly hope, to meet again, and to 
part no more." — Vol. II, p. 197. 

1769 — JEt. 60 
I complained that he had not mentioned Gar- 
rick in his Preface to Shakespeare; and asked him 



BOSWELL\S LIFE OF JOHNSON 45 

if he did not admire him. Johnsuii: "Yv^, as 'sl 
poor player, who frets and struts his hour upon the 
stage' — as a shadow." Boswell: "But has he not 
brought Shakespeare into notice?" Johnson: "Sir, 
to allow that would be to lampoon the age. Many 
of Shakespeare's plays are the worse for being 
acted: Macbeth, for instance." Boswell: "What, 
sir, is nothing gained by decoration and action? 
Indeed, I do wish that you had mentioned Garrick." 
Johnson: "My dear sir, had I mentioned him, I 
must have mentioned many more; Mrs. Pritchard, 
Mrs. Gibber, — nay, and Mr. Gibber too; he too 
altered Shakespeare." — Vol. II, p. 238. 

1770 — ^t. 61 

''His general mode of life during my acquaintance, 
seemed to be pretty uniform. About twelve o'clock 
I commonly visited him, and frequently found him 
in bed, or declaiming over his tea, which he drank 
very plentifully. He generally had a levee of 
morning visitors, chiefly men of letters; Hawkes- 
worth. Goldsmith, Murphy, Langton, Steevens, 
Beauclerk, etc., etc., and sometimes learned ladies; 
particularly I remember a French lady of wit and 
fashion doing him the honour of a visit. He seemed 
to me to be considered as a kind of public oracle, 
whom everybody thought they had a right to visit 
and consult; and doubtless they were well rewarded. 
I never could discover how he found time for his 
compositions. He declaimed all the morning, then 



46 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

went to dinner at a tavern, where he commonly 
stayed late, and then drank his tea at some friend's 
house, over which he loitered a great while, but 
seldom took supper. I fancy he must have read 
and wrote chiefly in the night, for I can scarcely 
recollect that he ever refused going with me to a 
tavern, and he often went to Ranelagh, which he 
deemed a place of innocent recreation." ^ 

Vol. II, p. 265. 

1772 — -ffit. 63 

A question was started, how far people who dis- 
agreed in a capital point can live in friendship to- 
gether. Goldsmith said they could not, as they 
had not the idem velle atque idem nolle — the same 
likings and the same aversions. Johnson: ''Why, 
sir, you must shun the subject as to which you 
disagree. For instance, I can live very well with 
Burke: I love his knowledge, his genius, his diffusion, 
and affluence of conversation; but I would not talk 
to him of the Rockingham party." Goldsmith: 
''But, sir, when people hve together who have some- 
thing as to which they disagree, and which they 
want to shun, they will be in the situation mentioned 
in the story of Bluebeard, 'You may look into ah 
the chambers but one.' But we should have the 
greatest inclination to look into that chamber, to 
talk of that subject." Johnson (with a loud voice): 
"Sir, I am not saying that yo2i could live in friend- 
^ Quoted from the account of Rev. Dr. Maxwell. 



BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 47 

ship with a man from whom you differ as to some 
point: I am only saying that / could do it." 

Vol. Ill, p. 38. 

1773 — Mt. 64 

He owned that he thought Hawkesworth was one 
of his imitators, but he did not think Goldsmith 
was. Goldsmith, said he, had great merit. Boswell: 
''But, sir, he is much indebted to you for his getting 
so high in the public estimation." Johnson: ''Why, 
sir, he has perhaps got sooner to it by his intimacy 
with me." 

Goldsmith, though his vanity often excited him 
to occasional competition, had a very high regard 
for Johnson, which he had at this time expressed 
in the strongest manner in the Dedication of his 
Comedy, entitled She Stoops to Conquer. 

"By inscribing this sHght performance to you, 
I do not mean so much to compliment you as my- 
self. It may do me some honour to inform the 
public that I have lived many years in intimacy 
with you. It may serve the interests of mankind 
also to inform them, that the greatest wit may be 
found in a character, without impairing the most 
unaffected piety.'' — Vol. Ill, p. 71. 

1773 — -ffit. 64 

Talking of the family of Stuart, he said, "It 
should seem that the family at present on the throne 
has now established as good a right as the former 



48 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

family, by the long consent of the people; and that 
to disturb this right might be considered as culpable. 
At the same time I own that it is a very difficult 
question when considered with respect to the house 
of Stuart. To oblige people to take oaths as to the 
disputed right is wrong. I know not whether I 
could take them: but I do not blame those who do." 

Vol. Ill, p. 74. 



1773 — -fflt. 64 

A gentleman attacked Garrick for being vain. 
Johnson: "No wonder, sir, that he is vain; a man 
who is perpetually flattered in every mode that 
can be conceived. So many bellows have blown the 
fire, that one wonders he is not by this time become 
a cinder." Boswell: ''And such bellows too. Lord 
Mansfield with his cheeks like to burst; Lord Chat- 
ham hke an ^olus. I have read such notes from 
them to him as were enough to turn his head." 
Johnson: "True. When he whom everybody else 
flatters, flatters me, I then am truly happy." Mrs. 
Thrale: "The sentiment is in Congreve, I think." 
Johnson: "Yes, madam, in The Way of the World: 

' If there's delight in love, 'tis when I see 

That heart which others bleed for, bleed for me.' 

No, sir, I should not be surprised though Garrick 
chained the ocean and lashed the winds." 

Vol. Ill, p. 81. 



BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 49 

1773 — -ffit. 64 

He said, '^Goldsmith should not be for ever at- 
tempting to shine in conversation: he has not 
temper for it, he is so much mortified when he fails. 
Sir, a game of jokes is composed partly of skill, 
partly of chance; a man may be beat at times by 
one who has not the tenth part of his wit. Now 
Goldsmith's putting himself against another, is like 
a man laying a hundred to one who cannot spare 
the hundred. It is not worth a man's while. A 
man should not lay a hundred to one unless he can 
easily spare it, though he has a hundred chances 
for him: he can get but a guinea, and he may lose 
a hundred. Goldsmith is in this state. When he 
contends, if he gets the better, it is a very little 
addition to a man of his literary reputation: if he 
does not get the better, he is miserably vexed." 

Johnson's own superlative powers of wit set him 
above any risk of such uneasiness. Garrick had 
remarked to me of him, a few days before, "Rabe- 
lais and all other wits are nothing compared with 
him. You may be diverted by them; but Johnson 
gives you a forcible hug, and shakes laughter out 
of you, whether you will or no." 

Goldsmith, however, was often very fortunate in 
his witty contests, even when he entered the lists 
with Johnson himself. Sir Joshua Reynolds was in 
company with them one day, when Goldsmith said, 
that he thought he could write a good fable, men- 
tioned the simplicity which that kind of composi- 



50 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

tion requires, and observed, that in most fables the 
animals introduced seldom talk in character. ''For 
instance (said he), the fable of the little fishes, who 
saw birds fly over their heads, and envying them, 
petitioned Jupiter to be changed into birds. The 
skill (continued he) consists in making them talk 
like little fishes." While he indulged himself in this 
fanciful reverie, he observed Johnson shaking his 
sides, and laughing. Upon which he smartly pro- 
ceeded, ''Why, Dr. Johnson, this is not so easy 
as you seem to think; for if you were to make little 
fishes talk, they would talk hke whales." 

Vol. Ill, p. 85. 

1773 — .ffit. 64 

Goldsmith being mentioned; — Johnson: "It is 
amazing how little Goldsmith knows. He seldom 
comes where he is not more ignorant than anyone 
else." Sir Joshua Reynolds: "Yet there is no man 
whose company is more liked." Johnson: "To be 
sure, sir. When people find a man of the most dis- 
tinguished abihties as a writer, their inferior while he 
is with them, it must be highly gratifying to them. 
What Goldsmith comically says of himself is very 
true, — he always gets the better when he argues 
alone; meaning, that he is master of a subject in 
his study, and can write well upon it; but when 
he comes into company, grows confused, and un- 
able to talk. Take him as a poet, his Traveler is a 
very fine performance: ay, and so is his Deserted 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 51 

Village, were it not sometimes too much the echo 
of his Traveler. Whether, indeed, we take him 
as a poet, — as a comic writer, — or as an historian, 
he stands in the first class." Boswell: ''An his- 
torian! My dear sir, you surely will not rank his 
compilation of the Roman History with the works 
of other historians of this age?" Johnson: ''Why, 
who are before him?" Boswell: "Hume — Robert- 
son — Lord Lyttelton." Johnson (his antipathy to 
the Scotch beginning to rise): "I have not read 
Hume; but, doubtless, Goldsmith's History is bet- 
ter than the verbiage of Robertson, or the foppery 
of Dalrymple." Boswell: "Will you not admit the 
superiority of Robertson, in whose History we find 
such penetration — such painting?" Johnson : " Sir, 
you must consider how that penetration and that 
painting are employed. It is not history, it is im- 
agination. He who describes what he never saw 
draws from fancy. Robertson paints minds as Sir 
Joshua paints faces in a history-piece: he imagines 
an heroic countenance. You must look upon Robert- 
son's work as romance, and try it by that standard. 
History it is not. Besides, sir, it is the great excel- 
lence of a writer to put into his book as much as 
his book will hold. Goldsmith has done this in his 
history. Now, Robertson might have put twice as 
much into his book. Robertson is like a man who 
has packed gold in wool; the wool takes up more 
room than the gold. No, sir, I always thought 
Robertson would be crushed by his own weight, — 



52 BOSWELLS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

would be buried under his own ornaments. Gold- 
smith tells you shortly all you want to know: 
Robertson detains you a great deal too long. No 
man will read Robertson's cumbrous detail a second 
time; but Goldsmith's plain narrative will please 
again and again. I would say to Robertson what 
an old tutor at college said to one of his pupils, 
'Read over your compositions, and wherever you 
meet with a passage which you think is particularly 
fine, strike it out.' Goldsmith's abridgment is bet- 
ter than that of Lucius Florus or Eutropius; and I 
will venture to say, that if you compare him with 
Vertot, in the same places of the Roman History, 
you will find that he excels Vertot. Sir, he has the 
art of compiling, and of saying everything he has 
to say in a pleasing manner. He is now writing a 
Natural History, and will make it as entertaining 
as a Persian Tale." — Vol. Ill, p. 90. 

1773 — iEt. 64 

The gentlemen went away to their club, and I 
was left at Beauclerk's till the fate of my election 
[to the Literary Club] should be announced to me. 
I sat in a state of anxiety w^hich even the charming 
conversation of Lady Di Beauclerk could not en- 
tirely dissipate. In a short time I received the 
agreeable intelligence that I was chosen. I has- 
tened to the place of meeting, and was introduced 
to such a society as can seldom be found. Mr. 
Edmund Burke, whom I then saw for the first 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 53 

time, and whose splendid talents had long made 
me ardently wish for his acquaintance; Dr. Nugent, 
Mr. Garrick, Dr. Goldsmith, Mr. (afterwards Sir 
WilHam) Jones, and the company with whom I 
had dined. Upon my entrance Johnson placed him- 
self behind a chair, on which he leaned as on a desk 
or pulpit, and with humorous formality gave me a 
charge, pointing out the conduct expected from me 
as a good member of this club. — Vol. Ill, p. 94. 

1773 — -ffit. 64 

His stay in Scotland was from the 18th of August, 
on which day he arrived, till the 22nd of November, 
when he set out on his return to London; and I 
believe ninety-four days were never passed by any 
man in a more vigorous exertion. 

He came by the way of Berwick-upon-Tweed to 
Edinburgh, where he remained a few days, and 
then went by St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Inverness, 
and Fort Augustus, to the Hebrides, to visit which 
was the principal object he had in view. He visited 
the isles of Skye, Raasay, Coll, Mull, Inchkenneth, 
and Icolmkill. He travelled through Argyllshire by 
Inveraray, and from thence by Loch Lomond and 
Dumbarton to Glasgow, then l)y Loudoun to Auch- 
inleck in Ayrshire, the seat of the family, and then 
by Hamilton, back to Edinburgh, where he again 
spent some time. He thus saw the four universities 
of Scotland, its three principal cities, and as much 
of the Highland and insular life as was sufficient 



54 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

for his philosophical contemplation. I had the 
pleasure of accompanying him during the whole 
of his journey. He was respectfully entertained by 
the great, the learned, and the elegant, wherever 
he went; nor was he less delighted with the hospi- 
tality which he experienced in humbler life. 

Vol. Ill, p. 121. 

1773 — -ffit. 64 

"Boswell will praise my resolution and persever- 
ance, and I shall in return celebrate his good humour 
and perpetual cheerfulness. He has better faculties 
than I had imagined; more justness of discernment, 
and more fecundity of images. It is very convenient 
to travel with him; for there is no house where he 
is not received with kindness and respect." ^ 

Vol. Ill, p. 122. 

1773 — Mt. 64 

''With Reynolds' pencil, vivid, bold, and true, 
So fervent Boswell gives him to our view: 
In every trait we see his mind expand; 
The master rises by the pupil's hand; 
We love the writer, praise his happy vein. 
Graced with the naivete of the sage Montaigne." ^ 

Vol. Ill, p. 123. 

^ From a letter of Johnson's to Mrs. Thrale about the 
Tour to the Hebrides. 
2 From a poem by Courtenay. 



BOSWELUS LIFE OP JOHNSON 55 

/ 1775 — -ffit. 66 

[ He had, indeed, an awful dread of death, or 
rather, ''of something after death"; and what 
rational man, who seriously thinks of quitting all 
that he has ever known, and going into a new and 
unknown state of being, can be without that dread? 
But his fear was from reflection; his courage natural. 
His fear, in that one instance, was the result of 
philosophical and religious consideration. He feared 
death, but he feared nothing else, not even what 
might occasion death./ Many instances of his reso- 
lution might be mentioned. One day, at Mr. Beau- 
clerk's house in the country, when two large dogs 
were fighting, he weVit up to them, and beat them 
till they separated; and at another time, when told 
of the danger there was that a gun might burst if 
charged with many balls, he put in six or seven, 
and fired it off against a wall. Mr. Langton told 
me that when they were swimming together near 
Oxford, he cautioned Dr. Johnson against a pool 
which was reckoned particularly dangerous; upon 
which Johnson directly swam into it. He told me 
himself that one night he was attacked in the street 
by four men, to whom he would not yield, but 
kept them all at bay till the watch came up, and 
carried both him and them to the roundhouse. In 
the playhouse at Lichfield, as Mr. Garrick informed 
me, Johnson having for a moment quitted a chair 
which was placed for him between the side scenes, a 
gentleman took possession of it, and when Johnson 



56 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

on his return civilly demanded his seat, rudely re- 
fused to give it up; upon which Johnson laid hold 
of it, and tossed him and the chair into the pit. 
Foote, who so successfully revived the old comedy, 
by exhibiting living characters, had resolved to 
imitate Johnson on the stage, expecting great profits 
from his ridicule of so celebrated a man. Johnson 
being informed of his intention, and being at din- 
ner at Mr. Thomas Davies's the bookseller, from 
whom I had the story, he asked Mr. Davies ''what 
was the common price of an oak stick"; and being 
answered sixpence, "Why, then, sir (said he), give 
me leave to send your servant to purchase me a 
shilling one. I'll have a doublte quantity; for I am 
told Foote means to take me off, as he calls it, and 
I am determined the fellow shall not do it with 
impunity." Davies took care to acquaint Foote of 
this, which effectually checked the wantonness of 
the mimic. — Vol. Ill, p. 150. 

1775 — ^t. 66 

( That this pamphlet ^ was written at the desire 
of those then in power, I have no doubt; and, in- 
deed, he owned to me, that it had been revised and 
curtailed by some of them. He told me that they 
had struck out one passage, which was to this effect : 
"That the Colonists could with no solidity argue 
from their not having been taxed while in their 

^ The reference is to Taxation No Tyranny, 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOUN^ON 57 

infancy, that they should not now be taxed. We 
do not put a calf into the plow; we wait until he 
is an ox." He said, "They struck it out either 
critically as too ludicrous, or pohtically as too exas- 
perating. I care not which. It was their business. 
If an architect says, I will build five stories, and the 
man who employs him says, I will have only three, 
the employer is to decide." "Yes, sir (said I), in 
ordinary cases. But should it be so when the archi- 
tect gives his skill and labor gratis f " 

Vol. Ill, p. 164. 

1775 — ^t. 66 

Johnson: "Charles the Second was licentious in 
his practice; but he always had reverence for what 
was good. Charles the Second knew his people 
and rewarded merit. The Church was at no time 
better filled than in his reign. He was the best 
king we have had from his time till the reign of his 
present Majesty, except James the Second, who 
was a very good king, but unhappily beheved that 
it was necessary for the salvation of his subjects 
that they should be Roman Catholics. He had the 
merit of endeavouring to do what he thought was for 
the salvation of the souls of his subjects, till he lost 
a great empire. We, who thought that we should 
not be saved if we were Roman Catholics, had the 
merit of maintaining our religion at the expense of 
submitting ourselves to the government of King 
William, for it could not be done otherwise^ — to 



58 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

the government of one of the most worthless scoun- 
drels that ever existed." — Vol. Ill, p. 189. 

1775 — -ffit. 66 

''I will not send compliments to my friends by 
name, because I would be loth to leave any out 
in the enumeration. Tell them, as you see them, 
how well I speak of Scotch politeness, and Scotch 
hospitality, and Scotch beauty, and of everything 
Scotch, but Scotch oatcakes, and Scotch prejudices." 

Vol. Ill, p. 224. 

1775 — -ffit. 66 

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. 

''My dear Sir, — I now write to you, lest in some 
of your freaks and humours you should fancy your- 
self neglected. Such fancies I must entreat you 
never to admit, at least never to indulge; for my 
regard for you is so radicated and fixed, that it is 
become part of my mind and cannot be effaced 
but by some cause uncommonly violent; therefore 
whether I write or not, set your thoughts at rest. 
I now write to tell you that I shall not very soon 
write again, for I am to set out to-morrow on an- 
other journey. . . . 

''Your friends are all well at Streatham, and in 
Leicester Fields.^ Make my compliments to Mrs, 

^ Where Sir Joshua Reynolds lived, 



BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 59 

Boswell, if she is in good humour with me. — I 

am, sir, etc., 

''Sam. Johnson. 

''September 14, 1775." 

What he mentions in such Hght terms, as '^I am 
to set out to-morrow on another journey," I soon 
afterwards discovered was no less than a tour to 
France with Mr. and Mrs. Thrale. This was the 
only time in his life that he went upon the Con- 
tinent. — Vol. Ill, p. 227. 

1775 — -ffit. 66 

TO MR. ROBERT LEVET 

"Paris, Oct. 22, 1775. 
"Dear Sir, — We are still here, commonly very 
busy in looking about us. We have been to-day to 
Versailles. You have seen it, and I shall not de- 
scribe it. We came yesterday from Fontainebleau, 
where the Court is now. We went to see the King 
and Queen at dinner, and the Queen was so impressed 
by Miss [Thrale], that she sent one of the gentle- 
men to inquire who she was. I find all true that 
you have ever told me at Paris. Mr. Thrale is very 
liberal, and keeps us two coaches, and a very fine 
table; but I think our cookery very bad. Mrs. 
Thrale got into a convent of English nuns, and I 
talked with her through the grate, and I am very 
kindly used by the English Benedictine friars. But 
upon the whole I cannot make much acquaintance 



60 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

here; and though tlic churches, palaces, and some 
private houses are very magnificent, there is no 
very great pleasure after having seen many in seeing 
more; at least the pleasure, whatever it be, must 
some time have an end, and we are beginning to 
think when we shall come home. Mr. Thrale cal- 
culates that as we left Streatham on the fifteenth 
of September we shall see it again about the fifteenth 
of November. 

''I think I had not been on this side of the sea 
five days before I found a sensible improvement 
in my health. I ran a race in the rain this day, and 
beat Baretti. Baretti is a fine fellow, and speaks 
French, I think, quite as well as English. 

''Make my compliments to Mrs. Wilhams; and 
give my love to Francis; and tell my friends that 
I am not lost. — I am, dear sir, your affectionate 
humble, etc., 

''Sam. Johnson." 
Vol. Ill, p. 228. 

1775 — Mt. 66 

''When Madame de Boufflers was first in England 
(said Beauclerk), she was desirous to see Johnson. 
I accordingly went with her to his chambers in the 
Temple, where she was entertained with his con- 
versation for some time. When our visit was over 
she and I left him, and were got into Inner Temple 
Lane, when all at once I heard a noise like thunder. 
This was occasioned })y Johnson, who, it seems, 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON (31 

upon a little recollection, had taken it into his head 
that he ought to have done the honours of his literary 
residence to a foreign lady of quality, and eager to 
show himself a man of gallantry, was hurrying down 
the staircase in violent agitation. He overtook us 
before we reached the Temple Gate, and brushing 
in between me and Madame de Boufflers, seized her 
hand, and conducted her to her coach. His dress 
was a rusty brown morning suit, a pair of old shoes 
by way of shppers, a little shrivelled wig sticking 
on the top of his head, and the sleeves of his shirt 
and the knees of his breeches hanging loose. A 
considerable crowd of people gathered round, and 
were not a little struck by this singular appearance." 

Vol. Ill, p. 247. 

/ 1776 — ^t. 67 

; Johnson: "Yes, Burke is an extraordinary man. 
His stream of mind is perpetual." It is very pleas- 
ing to me to record that Johnson's high estimation 
of the talents of this gentleman was uniform from 
their early acquaintance. / Sir Joshua Reynolds 
informs me that when Mr. Burke was first elected 
a member of Parliament, and Sir John Hawkins 
expressed a wonder at his attaining a seat, Johnson 
said, ''Now, we who know Mr. Burke, know that 
he will be one of the first men in the country." 
And once, when Johnson was ill, and unable to exert 
himself as much as usual without fatigue, Mr. 
Burke having been mentioned, he said, ''That fel- 



62 BOSWELVS LIP'S OF JOHNSON 

low calls forth all my powers. Were I to see Burke 
now it would kill me." So much was he accustomed 
to consider conversation as a contest, and such was 
his notion of Burke as an opponent. 

Vol. Ill, p. 289. 

1776 — Mt. 67 

Johnson: '^Garrick's conversation is gay and gro- 
tesque. It is a dish of all sorts, but all good things. 
There is no solid meat in it: there is a want of 
sentiment in it. Not but that he has sentiment 
sometimes, and sentiment, too, very powerful and 
pleasing; but it has not its full proportion in his 
conversation. — Vol. Ill, p. 304. 

1776 — -ffit. 67 

We were by no means pleased with our inn at 
Bristol. ''Let us see now (said I) how we should 
describe it." Johnson was ready with his raillery. 
''Describe it, sir? Why, it was so bad that Boswell 
wished to be in Scotland." — Vol. IV, p. 57. 

1776 — -ffit. 67 

I am now to record a very curious incident in 
Dr. Johnson's life, which fell under my own obser- 
vation; of which pars magna fui, and which I am 
persuaded will, with the liberal-minded, be much 
to his credit. 

My desire of being acquainted with celebrated 
men of every description, had made me, much about 



BOSWEWS LIFE OF JOHNSON 63 

the same time, obtain an introduction to Dr. Samuel 
Johnson and to John Wilkes, Esq.^ Two men more 
different could perhaps not be selected out of all 
mankind. They have even attacked one another 
with some asperity in their writings; yet I lived in 
habits of friendship with both. I could fully relish 
the excellence of each; for I have ever delighted 
in that intellectual chemistry which can separate 
good qualities from evil in the same person. . . . 

My worthy booksellers and friends. Messieurs 
Dilly, in the Poultry, at whose hospitable and well- 
covered table I have seen a greater number of 
literary men than at any other, except that of Sir 
Joshua Reynolds, had invited me to meet Mr. 
Wilkes and some more gentlemen, on Wednesday, 
May 15. ''Pray (said I), let us have Dr. Johnson.'' 
"What, with Mr. Wilkes? not for the world (said 
Mr. Edward Dilly) : Dr. Johnson would never for- 
give me." ''Come (said I), if you'll let me negotiate 
for you, I will be answerable that all shall go well." 
Dilly: "Nay, if you will take it upon you, I am sure 
I shall be very happy to see them both here." 

Notwithstanding the high veneration which I 
entertained for Dr. Johnson, I was sensible that he 
was sometimes a little actuated by the spirit of 

^ A dissolute politician who attacked the Tory party so 
bitterly in his paper, the North Briton, that he was tried for 
libel and convicted. He was later declared an outlaw, yet he 
sat for many years in the House of Commons and became 
Lord Mayor of London. 



()4 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

contradiction, and by means of that I hoped I should 
gain my point. I was persuaded that if I had come 
upon him with a direct proposal, "Sir, will you 
dine in company with Jack Wilkes?" he would have 
flown into a passion, and would probably have 
answered, ''Dine with Jack Wilkes, sir! I'd as soon 
dine with Jack Ketch." I therefore, while we were 
sitting quietly by ourselves at his house in an even- 
ing, took occasion to open my plan thus: — "Mr. 
Dilly, sir, sends his respectful compliments to you, 
and would be happy if you would do him the honour 
to dine with him on Wednesday next along with 
me, as I must soon go to Scotland." Johnson: 
"Sir, I am obhged to Mr. Dilly. I will wait upon 
him — " Boswell: "Provided, sir, I suppose, that 
the company which he is to have is agreeable to 
you." Johnson: "What do you mean, sir? What 
do you take me for? Do you think I am so ignorant 
of the world as to imagine that I am to prescribe 
to a gentleman what company he is to have at 
his table?" Boswell: "I beg your pardon, sir, for 
wishing to prevent you from meeting people whom 
you might not like. Perhaps he may have some of 
what he calls his patriotic friends with him." John- 
son: "Well, sir, and what then? What care / for 
his patriotic friends f Poh! " Boswell: "I should 
not be surprised to find Jack Wilkes there. " John- 
son: "And if Jack Wilkes should be there, what is 
that to me, sir? My dear friend, let us have no 
more of this. I am sorry to be angry with you; 



BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 65 

but really it is treating me strangely to talk to me 
as if I could not meet any company whatever, 
occasionally." Boswell: ''Pray forgive me, sir: I 
meant well. But you shall meet whoever comes, 
for me." Thus I secured him, and told Dilly that 
he would find him very well pleased to be one of 
his guests on the day appointed. 

Upon the much-expected Wednesday I called on 
him about half an hour before dinner, as I often 
did when we were to dine out together, to see that 
he was ready in time, and to accompany him. I 
found him buffeting his books, as upon a former 
occasion, covered with dust, and making no prepa- 
ration for going abroad. ''How is this, sir? (said I). 
Don't you recollect that you are to dine at Mr. 
Billy's?" Johnson: "Sir, I did not think of going 
to Billy's: it went out of my head. I have ordered 
dinner at home with Mrs. WilHams." Boswell: 
"But, my dear sir, you know you were engaged 
to Mr. Billy, and I told him so. He will expect 
you, and will be much disappointed if you don't 
come." Johnson: "You must talk to Mrs. WilHams 
about this." 

Here was a sad dilemma. I feared that what I 
was so confident I had secured would yet be frus- 
trated. He had accustomed himself to show Mrs. 
Williams such a degree of humane attention, as 
frequently imposed some restraint upon him; and 
I knew that if she should be obstinate, he would 
not stir. I hastened downstairs to the blind lady's 



66 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

room, and told her I was in great uneasiness, for 
Dr. Johnson had engaged to me to dine this day at 
Mr. Dilly's, but that he had told me he had forgot- 
ten his engagement, and had ordered dinner at 
home. ''Yes, sir (said she, pretty peevishly), Dr. 
Johnson is to dine at home." ''Madam (said I), 
his respect for you is such that I know he will not 
leave you, unless you absolutely desire it. But as 
you have so much of his company, I hope you will 
be good enough to forego it for a day; as Mr. Dilly 
is a very worthy man, has frequently had agreeable 
parties at his house for Dr. Johnson, and will be 
vexed if the Doctor neglects him to-day. And 
then, madam, be pleased to consider my situation: 
I carried the message, and I assured Mr. Dilly that 
Dr. Johnson was to come: and no doubt he has made 
a dinner, and invited a company, and boasted of 
the honour he expected to have. I shall be quite 
disgraced if the Doctor is not there." She gradually 
softened to my solicitations, which were certainly 
as earnest as most entreaties to ladies upon any 
occasion, and was graciously pleased to empower 
me to tell Dr. Johnson, "That, all things considered, 
she thought he should certainly go." I flew back to 
him, .still in dust, and careless of what should be 
the event, "indifferent in his choice to go or stay"; 
but as soon as I had announced to him Mrs. Wil- 
liams' consent, he roared, "Frank, a clean shirt," 
and was very soon dressed. When I had him fairly 
seated in a hackney coach with me, I exulted as 



BOSWELL\S LIFE OF JOHNSON G7 

much as a fortune hunter who has got an heiress into 
a post chaise with him, to set out for Gretna Green. 
When we entered Mr. Dilly's drawing-room, he 
found himself in the midst of a company he did 
not know. I kept myself snug and silent, watching 
how he would conduct himself. * I observed him 
whispering to Mr. Dilly, "Who is that gentleman, 
sir?" ''Mr. Arthur Lee." Johnson: ''Too, too, too" 
(under his breath), which was one of his habitual 
^' mutterings. Mr. Arthur Lee could not but be very 
obnoxious to Johnson, for he was not only a patriot 
but an American. He was afterwards minister from 
the United States at the court of Madrid. "And 
who is the gentleman in lace?" "Mr. Wilkes, sir." 
This information confounded him still more; he had 
some difficulty to restrain himself, and taking up a 
book, sat down upon a window-seat and read, or 
at least kept his eye upon it intently for some time, 
till he composed himself. His feelings, I dare say, 
were awkward enough. But he no doubt recollected 
his having rated me for supposing that he could be 
at all disconcerted by any company, and he there- 
fore resolutely set himself to behave quite as an 
easy man of the world, who could adapt himself 
at once to the disposition and manners of those 
whom he might chance to meet. 

The cheering sound of "Dinner is upon the table," 
dissolved his reverie, and we all sat down without 
any symptom of ill humor. There were present, 
beside Mr. Wilkes, and Mr. Arthur Lee, who was 



68 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

an old companion of mine when he studied physic 
at Edinburgh, Mr. (now Sir John) Miller, Dr. Lett- 
som, and Mr. Slater the druggist. Mr. Wilkes 
placed himself next to Dr. Johnson, and behaved 
to him with so much attention and politeness that 
he gained upon him insensibly. No man ate more 
heartily than Johnson, or loved better what was 
nice and delicate. Mr. Wilkes was very assiduous 
in helping him to some fine veal. ''Pray give me 
leave, sir — It is better here — A little of the brown 
— Some fat, sir — A little of the stuffing — Some 
gravy — Let me have the pleasure of giving you 
some butter — Allow me to recommend a squeeze 
of this orange; or the lemon, perhaps, may have 
more zest." ''Sir, sir, I am obhged to you, sir," 
cried Johnson, bowing, and turning his head to him 
with a look for some time of "surly virtue," but, 
in a short while, of complacency. — Vol. IV, p. 71. 

1776 — ^t. 67 

Mr. Arthur Lee mentioned some Scotch who had 
taken possession of a barren part of America, and 
wondered why they should choose it. Johnson: 
"Why, sir, all barrenness is comparative. The 
Scotch would not know it to be barren." Boswell: 
"Come, come, he is flattering the EngHsh. You 
have now been in Scotland, sir, and say if you did 
not see meat and drink enough there." Johnson: 
"Why yes, sir; meat and drink enough to give the 
inhabitants sufficient strength to run away from 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 69 

home." All these quick and hvely saUies were said 
sportively, quite in jest, and with a smile, which 
showed that he meant only wit. Upon this topic, 
he and Mr. Wilkes could perfectly assimilate; here 
was a bond of union between them, and I was con- 
scious that as both of them had visited Caledonia, 
both were fully satisfied of the strange, narrow 
ignorance of those who imagine that it is a land of 
famine. But they amused themselves with persever- 
ing in the old jokes. When I claimed a superiority 
for Scotland over England in one respect, that no 
man can be arrested there for a debt, merely because 
another swears it against him; but there must first 
be the judgment of a court of law ascertaining its 
justice; and that a seizure of the person, before 
judgment is obtained, can take place only if his 
creditor should swear that he is about to fly from 
the country, or, as it is technically expressed, is 
in meditatione fugce. Wilkes: '' That, I should think, 
may be safely sworn of all the Scotch nation." 
Johnson (to Mr. Wilkes): "You must know, sir, I 
lately took my friend Boswell, and showed him 
genuine civilized life in an English provincial town. 
I turned him loose in Lichfield, my native city, that 
he might see for once real civility: for you know he 
lives among savages in Scotland, and among rakes 
in London." Wilkes: ''Except when he is with 
grave, sober, decent people, like you and me." 
Johnson (smiling): "And we ashamed of him." 

Vol. IV, p. 82. 



70 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

1776 — -ffit. 67 

"July 25, 1776. O God who hast ordained that 
whatever is to be desired should be sought by labour, 
and who, by Thy blessing, bringest honest labour to 
good effect, look with mercy upon my studies and 
endeavours. Grant me, O Lord, to design only what 
is lawful and right ; and afford me calmness of mind 
and steadiness of purpose, that I may so do Thy will 
in this short life, as to obtain happiness in the world 
to come, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen." ' — Vol. IV, p. 95. 

1777 — ^t. 68 

In the evening our gentleman farmer and two 
others entertained themselves and the company 
with a great number of tunes on the fiddle. John- 
son desired to have ''Let ambition fire thy mind," 
played over again, and appeared to give a patient 
attention to it; though he owned to me that he was 
very insensible to the power of music. I told him 
that it affected me to such a degree as often to agi- 
tate my nerves painfully, producing in my mind 
alternate sensations of pathetic dejection, so that 
I was ready to shed tears; and of daring resolution, 
so that I was inclined to rush into the thickest part 
of the battle. ''Sir (said he), I should never hear it 
if it made me such a fool." — Vol. IV, p. 200. 

^ This prayer was composed at a time when Johnson "pur- 
posed to apply vigorously to study, particularly of the Greek 
and Italian tongues." 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 71 

1777 — -ffit. 68 

My reverence and affection for him were in full 
glow. I said to him, ^'My dear sir, we must meet 
every year, if you don't quarrel with me." John- 
son: ''Nay, sir, you are more likely to quarrel with 
me than I with you. My regard for you is greater 
almost than I have words to express; but I do not 
choose to be always repeating it; write it down in 
the first leaf of your pocket-book, and never doubt 
of it again." — Vol. IV, p. 201. 

1778 — -ffit. 69 

He said, ''John Wesley's conversation is good, 
but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to 
go at a certain hour. This is very disagreeable to 
a man who loves to fold his legs and have out his 
talk, as I do." — Vol. IV, p. 231. 

1778 — ^t. 69 

Johnson harangued against drinking wine. "A 
man (said he) may choose whether he will have 
abstemiousness and knowledge, or claret and igno- 
rance." Dr. Robertson (who is very companionable) 
was beginning to dissent as to the proscription of 
claret. Johnson (with a placid smile): "Nay, sir, 
you shall not differ with me; as I have said that 
the man is most perfect who takes in the most 
things, I am for knowledge and claret." Robert- 
son (holding a glass of generous claret in his hand) ; 



72 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

''Sir, I can only drink your health." Johnson: 
''Sir, I should be sorry if you should be ever in such 
a state as to be able to do nothing more." Robert- 
son: "Dr. Johnson, allow me to say that in one 
respect I have the advantage of you; when you 
were in Scotland you would not come to hear any 
of our preachers, whereas, when I am here, I attend 
your public worship without scruple, and, indeed, 
with great satisfaction." Johnson: "Why, sir, that 
is not so extraordinary: the King of Siam sent am- 
bassadors to Louis the Fourteenth; but Louis the 
Fourteenth sent noiie to the King of Siam." 

Vol. V, p. 38. 

1778 — ^t. 69 

On Saturday, May 2, I dined with him at Sir 
Joshua Reynolds's, where there was a very large 
company, and a great deal of conversation; but 
owing to some circumstances which I cannot now 
recollect, I have no record of any part of it, except 
that there were several people there by no means 
of the Johnsonian school; so that less attention 
was paid to him than usual, which put him out of 
humour; and upon some imaginary offence from 
me, he attacked me with such rudeness, that 1 was 
vexed and angry, because it gave those persons an 
opportunity for enlarging upon his supposed ferocity, 
and ill treatment of his best friends. I was so much 
hurt, and had my pride so much roused, that I 
kept ^way from him for a week; and, perhaps, 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 73 

might have kept away much longer, na}^, gone to 
Scotland without seeing him again, had not we 
fortunately met and been reconciled. To such un- 
happy chances are human friendships liable. 

On Friday, May 8, I dined with him at Mr. Lang- 
ton's. I was reserved and silent, which I suppose 
he perceived, and might recollect the cause. After 
dinner, when Mr. Langton was called out of the 
room, and we were by ourselves, he drew his chair 
near to mine, and said, in a tone of conciliat- 
ing courtesy, "Well, how have you done?" Bos- 
well: ''Sir, you have made me very uneasy by your 
behaviour to me when we were last at Sir Joshua 
Reynolds's. You know, my dear sir, no man has 
a greater respect and affection for you, or would 
sooner go to the end of the world to serve you. 
Now, to treat me so — He insisted that I had inter- 
rupted him, which I assured him was not the case; 
and proceeded — ''But why treat me so before 
people who neither love you nor me?" Johnson: 
"Well, I am sorry for it. I'll make it up to you 
twenty different ways, as you please." Boswell: 
"I said to-day to Sir Joshua, when he observed 
that you tossed me sometimes — I don't care how 
often, or how high he tosses me, when only friends 
are present, for then I fall upon soft ground; but 
I do not like falhng on stones, which is the case 
when enemies are present. I think this is a pretty 
good image, sir." Johnson: "Sir, it is one of the 
happiest I have ever heard." — - Vol, V^ p. 40, 



74 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

mS—mt. 69 

"Williams hates everybody; Levett hates Des- 
moulins, and does not love Williams: Desmoulins 
hates them both; PolP loves none of them." ^ 

Vol. V, p. 70. 

1779 — Mt. 70 

Johnson: ''Garrick was a very good man, the 
cheerfullest man of his age; a decent liver in a pro- 
fession which is supposed to give indulgence to 
licentiousness; and a man who gave away, freely, 
money acquired by himself. He began the world 
with a great hunger for money; the son of a half- 
pay officer, bred in a family whose study was to 
make fourpence do as much as others would make 
fourpence halfpenny do. But when he had got 
money, he was very hberal." /I presumed to an- 
imadvert on his eulogy on Garrick, in his Lives of 
the Poets. "You say, sir, his death eclipsed the 
gayety of nations." Johnson: "I could not have 
said more nor less. It is the truth: eclipsed, not 
extinguished; and his death did eclipse; it was like 
a storm." Boswell: "But why nations? Did his 
gayety extend farther than his own nation?" John- 
son: "Why, sir, some exaggeration must be allowed. 
Besides, nations may be said — if we allow the Scotch 

^ Miss Carmichael. 

2 From a letter to Mrs. Thrale about the occupants of the 
Fleet Street house, 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 75 

to be a nation — to have gayety, — which they have 
not." — Vol. V, p. 88. 

1779 — .ffit. 70 

He said, ''Dodsley first mentioned to me the 
scheme of an Enghsh Dictionary; but I had long 
thought of it." Boswell: '^You did not know what 
you were undertaking." Johnson: ^'Yes, sir, I 
knew very well what I was undertaking — and 
very well how to do it." — Vol. V, p. 104. 

1780 — .ffit. 71 

Talking on the subject of toleration one day 
when some friends were with him in his study, he 
made his usual remark, that the State has a right 
to regulate the religion of the people, who are the 
children of the State. A clergyman having readily 
acquiesced in this, Johnson, who loved discussion, 
observed, "But, sir, you must go round to other 
states than your own. You do not know what a 
Brahmin has to say for himself. In short, sir, I 
have got no further than this: every man has a 
right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other 
man has a right to knock him down for it. Martyr- 
dom is the test." — Vol. V, p. 150. 

1780 — .ffit. 71 

''Of Dr. Goldsmith he said, 'No man was more 
foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or more 
wise when he had.'" — Vol. V, p. 168. 



76 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

1781 — mt. 72 

"When^ he walked the streets, what with the 
constant roll of his head, and the concomitant 
motion of his body, he appeared to make his way 
by that motion, independent of his feet." That he 
was often much stared at while he advanced in this 
manner, may easily be believed; but it was not safe 
to make sport of one so robust as he was. Mr. 
Langton saw him one day, in a fit of absence, by a 
sudden start, drive the load off a porter's back, 
and walk forward briskly, without being conscious 
of what he had done. The porter was very angry, 
but stood still, and eyed the huge figure with much 
earnestness, till he was satisfied that his wisest 
course was to be quiet, and take up his burden 
again. — Vol. V, p. 209. 

1781 — -ffit. 72 

Everything about his character and manners was 
forcible and violent; there was never any modera- 
tion; many a day did he fast; many a year did he 
refrain from wine; but when he did eat, it was 
voraciously; when he did drink wine, it was copi- 
ously. He could practice abstinence, but not tem- 
perance. — Vol. V, p. 210. 

1781 — ^t. 72 

Wilkes: "I have been thinking. Dr. Johnson, that 
there should be a Bill brought into Parliament that 
^ Quoted from a short Life published by Kearslcy. 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 77 

the controverted elections for Scotland should be 
tried in that country, at their own Abbey of Holy- 
rood House, and not here; for the consequence of 
trying them here is, that we have an inundation of 
Scotchmen, who come up and never go back again. 
Now here is Boswell, who is come upon the election 
for his own county, which will not last a fortnight." 
Johnson: ''Nay, sir, I see no reason why they should 
be tried at all; for, you know, one Scotchman is as 
good as another." Wilkes: "Pray, Boswell, how 
much may be got in a year by an advocate at the 
Scotch bar?" Boswell: ''I beheve, two thousand 
pounds." Wilkes: ''How can it be possible to spend 
that money in Scotland?" Johnson: "Why, sir, 
the money may be spent in England; but there is 
a harder question. If one man in Scotland gets 
possession of two thousand pounds, what remains 
for all the rest of the nation?" Wilkes: "You know, 
in the last war, the immense booty Thurot carried 
off by the complete plunder of seven Scotch isles; 
he re-embarked with three and sixpence." Here again 
Johnson and Wilkes joined in extravagant sportive 
raillery upon the supposed poverty of Scotland, 
which Dr. Beattie and I did not think it worth our 
while to dispute. — Vol. V, p. 237. 

1781 — ^t. 72 

One day, when I told him that I was a zealous 
Tory, but not enough "according to knowledge," 
and should be obhged to him for "a reason," he 



78 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

was so candid, and expressed himself so well, that 
I begged of him to repeat what he had said, and I 
wrote it down as follows: 

OF TORY AND WHIG 

''A wise Tory and a wise Whig, I beheve, will 
agree. Their principles are the same, though their 
modes of thinking are different. A high Tory makes 
government unintelligible: it is lost in the clouds. 
A violent Whig makes it impracticable: he is for 
allowing so much liberty to every man, that there 
is not power enough to govern any man. The prej- 
udice of the Tory is for establishment; the prejudice 
of the Whig is for innovation. A Tory does not 
wish to give more real power to Government, but 
that Government should have more reverence. 
Then they differ as to the Church. The Tory is 
not for giving more legal power to the clergy, but 
wishes they should have a considerable influence 
founded upon the opinion of mankind: the Whig 
is for hmiting and watching them with a narrow 
jealousy." — Vol. V, p. 251. 

1782 — -ffit. 73 

TO JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ. 

''Dear Sir, — I have struggled through this year 
with so much infirmity of body, and such strong 
impressions of the fragility of life, that death, when- 



BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 79 

ever it appears, fills me with melancholy; and I 
cannot hear without emotion of the removal of any- 
one, whom I have known, into another state. 

"Your father's death had every circumstance 
that could enable you to bear it; it was at a mature 
age, and it was expected; and as his general hfe 
had been pious, his thoughts had doubtless for 
many years past been turned upon eternity. That 
you did not find him sensible must doubtless grieve 
you; his disposition towards you was undoubtedly 
that of a kind, though not of a fond father. Kind- 
ness, at least actual, is in our power, but fondness 
is not; and if by negligence or imprudence you had 
extinguished his fondness, he could not at will re- 
kindle it. Nothing then remained between you 
but mutual forgiveness of each other's faults, and 
mutual desire of each other's happiness. 

''I shall long to know his final disposition of his 
fortune. 

"You, dear sir, have now a new station, and 
have therefore new cares and new employments. 
Life, as Cowley seems to say, ought to resemble a 
well-ordered poem; of which one rule generally 
received is, that the exordium should be simple, 
and should promise little. Begin your new course 
of hfe with the least show, and the least expense 
possible; you may at pleasure increase both, but 
you cannot easily diminish them. Do not think 
your estate your own, while any man can call upon 
you for money which you cannot pay; therefore, 



80 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

begin with timorous parsimony. Let it be your 
first care not to be in any man's debt. 

'^When the thoughts are extended to a future 
state, the present hfe seems hardly worthy of all 
those principles of conduct, and maxims of prudence, 
which one generation of men has transmitted to 
another; but upon a closer view, when it is perceived 
how much evil is produced and how much good is 
impeded by embarrassment and distress, and how 
little room the expedients of poverty leave for the 
exercise of virtue, it grows manifest that the bound- 
less importance of the next life enforces some at- 
tention to the interests of this. 

''Be kind to the old servants, and secure the 
kindness of the agents and factors; do not disgust 
them by asperity, or unwelcome gayety, or apparent 
suspicion. From them you must learn the real 
state of your affairs, the characters of your tenants, 
and the value of your lands. 

''Make my comphments to Mrs. Boswell; I think 
her expectations from air and exercise are the best that 
she can form. I hope she will live long and happily. 

" I forgot whether I told you that Raasay has been 
here; we dined cheerfully together. I entertained 
lately a young gentleman from Corrichatachin. 

"I received your letters only this morning. — I 
am, dear sir, yours, etc., 

"Sam. Johnson. 
^'London, Sept. 7, 1782.'' 

Vol. V, p. 288. 



^ 



BOSWEWS LIFE OF JOHNSON 81 

1782 — JEt. 73 

''Almighty God, Father of all mercy, help me 
by thy grace, that I may, with humble and sincere 
thankfulness, remember the comforts and conven- 
iences which I have enjoyed at this place; and that 
I may resign them with holy submission, equally 
trusting in thy protection when Thou givest, and 
when Thou takest away. Have mercy upon me, 
Lord, have mercy upon me. 

''To thy fatherly protection, O Lord, I commend 
this family. Bless, guide, and defend them, that 
they may so pass through this world, as finally to 
enjoy in thy presence everlasting happiness, for 
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." ^ — Vol. V, p. 292. 

1783 — ^t. 74 

His uncommon kindness to his servants, and 
serious concern, not only for their comfort in this 
world, but their happiness in the next, was another 
unquestionable evidence of what all who were in- 
timately acquainted with him knew to be true. 

Nor would it be just under this head to omit 
the fondness he showed for animals which he had 
taken under his protection. I never shall forget 
the indulgence with which he treated Hodge, his 
cat; for whom he himself used to go out and buy 
oysters, lest the servants having that trouble should 
take a dislike to the poor creature. I am unluckily 

^ This is the prayer composed by Johnson on leaving the 
home of the Thrales. 



82 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

one of those who have an antipathy to a cat, so 
that I am uneasy when in the room with one; and 
I own I frequently suffered a good deal from the 
presence of the same Hodge. I recollect him one 
day scrambling up Dr. Johnson's breast apparently 
with much satisfaction, while my friend, smiling 
and half whistling, rubbed down his back, and pulled 
him by the tail; and when I observed he was a fine 
cat, saying, ''Why yes, sir, but I have had cats whom 
I hked better than this"; and then, as if perceiving 
Hodge to be out of countenance, adding, ''but he is 
a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed." 

Vol. VI, p. 33. 

1783 — .fflt. 74 

FROM A LETTER TO MRS. THRALE 

"On Monday, the 16th, I sat for my picture, 
and walked a considerable way with little incon- 
venience. In the afternoon and evening I felt 
myself light and easy, and began to plan schemes 
of life. Thus I went to bed, and in a short time 
waked and sat up, as has been long my custom, 
when I felt a confusion and indistinctness in my 
head, which lasted, I suppose, about half a minute. 
I was alarmed, and prayed God that however he 
might afflict my body he would spare my under- 
standing. This prayer, that I might try the integ- 
rity of my faculties, I made in Latin verse. The 
lines were not very good, but I knew them not to 



BOSW ELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 83 

be very good: I made them easily, and concluded 
myself to be unimpaired in my faculties. 

''Soon after I perceived that I had suffered a 
paralytic stroke, and that my speech was taken 
from me. I had no pain, and so httle dejection in 
this dreadful state, that I wondered at my own 
apathy, and considered that perhaps death itself, 
when it should come, would excite less horror than 
seems now to attend it. 

''In order to rouse the vocal organs I took two 
drams. Wine has been celebrated for the produc- 
tion of eloquence. I put myself into violent motion, 
and I think repeated it; but all was vain. I then 
went to bed, and, strange as it may seem, I think 
slept. When I saw light, it was time to contrive 
what I should do. Though God stopped my speech 
he left me my hand; I enjoyed a mercy which was 
not granted to my dear friend Lawrence, who now 
perhaps overlooks me as I am writing, and rejoices 
that I have what he wanted. My first note was 
necessarily to my servant, who came in talking, and 
could not immediately comprehend why he should 
read what I put into his hands. 

"I then wrote a card to Mr. Allen that I might 
have a discreet friend at hand to act as occasion 
should require. In penning this note I had some 
difficulty; my hand, I knew not how nor why, made 
wrong letters. I then wrote to Dr. Taylor to come 
to me and bring Dr. Heberden: and I sent to Dr. 
Brocklesby, who is my neighbour. My physicians 



84 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

are very friendly and give me great hopes; but you 
may imagine my situation. I have so far recovered 
my vocal powers as to repeat the Lord's Prayer 
with no very imperfect articulation. My memory, 
I hope, yet remains as it was; but such an attack 
produces solicitude for the safety of every faculty." 

Vol. VI, p. 64. 

1784 — -ffit. 75 

He seemed to take a pleasure in speaking in his 
own style; for when he had carelessly missed it, 
he would repeat the thought translated into it. 
Talking of the Comedy of the Rehearsal, he said, 
''It has not wit enough to keep it sweet." This 
was easy; — he therefore caught himself, and pro- 
nounced a more round sentence: ''It has not vitality 
enough to preserve it from putrefaction." 

Vol. VI, p. 153. 

1784 — -fflt. 75 

No man was more ready to make an apology 
when he had censured unjustly than Johnson. 
When a proof sheet of one of his works was brought 
to him, he found fault with the mode in which a 
part of it was arranged, refused to read it, and in a 
passion desired that the compositor might be sent 
to him. The compositor was Mr. Manning, a de- 
cent, sensible man, w^ho had composed about one- 
half of his Dictionary, when in Mr. Strahan's print- 
ing house; and a great part of his Lives of the Poets, 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 85 

when in that of Mr. Nichols; and who (in his seventy- 
seventh year), when in Mr. Baldwin's printing house, 
composed a part of the first edition of this work 
concerning him. By producing the manuscript, he 
at once satisfied Dr. Johnson that he was not to 
blame. Upon which Johnson candidl}^ and earnestly 
said to him, "Mr. Compositor, I ask your pardon; 
Mr. Compositor, I ask your pardon again and 
again." 

His generous humanity to the miserable was 
almost beyond example. The following instance is 
well attested: — Coming home late one night, he 
found a poor woman lying in the street, so much 
exhausted that she could not walk ; he took her upon 
his back, and carried her to his house, where he dis- 
covered that she was one of those wretched females 
who had fallen into the lowest state of vice, pov- 
erty, and disease. Instead of harshly upbraiding 
her, he had her taken care of with all tenderness 
for a long time, at a considerable expense, till she 
was restored to health, and endeavoured to put her 
into a virtuous way of hving. — Vol. VI, p. 154. 

1784 — iEt. 75 

It must be admitted that Johnson derived a 
considerable portion of happiness from the comforts 
and elegancies which he enjoyed in Mr. Thrale's 
family; but Mrs. Thrale assures us he was indebted 
for these to her husband alone, who certainly re- 
spected him sincerely. Her words are, " Veneration 



86 BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

for his virtue, reverence for his talents, delight in his 
conversation, and habitual endurance of a yoke my 
husband first put upon me, and of which he content- 
edly bore his share for sixteen or seventeen years, 
made me go on so long with Mr. Johnson; hut the 
perpetual confinement I will own to have been terrify- 
ing in the first years of our friendship, and irksome 
in the last; nor could I pretend to support it without 
help, when my coadjutor was no more.^' Alas! how 
different is this from the declarations which I have 
heard Mrs. Thrale make in his lifetime, without a 
single murmur against any peculiarities, or against 
any one circumstance which attended their in- 
timacy. — Vol. VI, p. 173. 

1784 — iEt. 75 

''In the name of God, Amen. I, Samuel John- 
son, being in full possession of my faculties, but 
fearing this night may put an end to my life, do 
ordain this my last will and testament. I bequeath 
to God, a soul polluted by many sins, but I hope 
purified by Jesus Christ. I leave seven hundred 
and fifty pounds in the hands of Bennet Langton, 
Esq., three hundred pounds in the hands of Mr. 
Barclay and Mr. Perkins, brewers: one hundred and 
fifty pounds in the hands of Dr. Percy, Bishop of 
Dromore; one thousand pounds, three per cent, 
annuities in the public funds; and one hundred 
pounds now lying by me in ready money; all these 
before-mentioned sums and property I leave, I 



BOSWELUS LIFE OF JOHNSON 87 

say, to Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, 
and Dr. WiUiam Scott, of Doctors Commons, in 
trust, for the following uses : — That is to say, to 
pay to the representatives of the late William 
Innys, bookseller, in St. Paul's Churchyard, the 
sum of two hundred pounds; to Mrs. White, my 
female servant, one hundred pounds stock in the 
three per cent, annuities aforesaid. The rest of 
the aforesaid sums of money and property, together 
with my books, plate, and household furniture, I 
leave to the before-mentioned Sir Joshua Reynolds, 
Sir John Hawkins, and Dr. William Scott, also in 
trust, to be applied, after paying my debts, to the 
use of Francis Barber, my man-servant, a negro, 
in such manner, as they shall judge most fit and 
available to his benefit. And I appoint the afore- 
said Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir John Hawkins, and 
Dr. William Scott, sole executors of this my last 
will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills 
and testaments whatever. In witness whereof, I 
hereunto subscribe my name, and affix my seal, 
this eighth day of December 1784. 

Sam. Johnson (l. s.). 
Vol. VI, p. 236. 

1784 — -ffit. 75 

Having, as has been already mentioned, made 
his will on the 8th and 9th of December, and set- 
tled all his worldly affairs, he languished till Mon- 
day, the 13th of that month, when he expired, 



88 BOSWELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 

about seven o'clock in the evening, with so httle 
apparent pain that his attendants hardly perceived 
when his dissolution took place. 

Of his last moments, my brother, Thomas David, 
has furnished me with the following particulars: 

''The Doctor, from the time that he was certain 
his death was near, appeared to be perfectly re- 
signed, was seldom or never fretful or out of tem- 
per, and often said to his faithful servant, who 
gave me this account, 'Attend, Francis, to the 
salvation of your soul, which is the object of great- 
est importance': he also explained to him passages 
in the Scripture, and seemed to have pleasure in 
talking upon religious subjects. 

"On Monday, the 13th of December, the day 
on which he died, a Miss Morris, daughter to a 
particular friend of his, called, and said to Francis, 
that she begged to be permitted to see the Doctor, 
that she might earnestly request him to give her 
his blessing. Francis went into his room, followed 
by the young lady, and delivered the message. 
The Doctor turned himself in the bed, and said, 
'God bless you, my dear!' These were the , last 
words he spoke. His difficulty of breathing in- 
creased till about seven o'clock in the evening, when 
Mr. Barber and Mrs. Desmoulins, who were sitting 
in the room, observing that the noise he made in 
breathing had ceased, went to the bed, and found 
he was dead." 

About two days after his death the follow- 



BOSW ELL'S LIFE OF JOHNSON 89 

ing very agreeable account was communicated to 
Mr. Malone, in a letter by the Honourable John 
Byng, to whom I am much obliged for granting me 
permission to introduce it in my work: 

"Dear Sir, — Since I saw you I have had a long 
conversation with Cawston/ who sat up with Dr. 
Johnson, from nine o'clock on Sunday evening, till 
ten o'clock on Monday morning. And, from what 
I can gather from him, it should seem that Dr. 
Johnson was perfectly composed, steady in hope, 
and resigned to death. At the interval of each 
hour, they assisted him to sit up in his bed, and 
move his legs, which were in much pain; when he 
regularly addressed himself to fervent prayer; and 
though, sometimes, his voice failed him, his sense 
never did, during that time. The only sustenance 
he received was cider and water. He said his mind 
was prepared, and the time of his dissolution seemed 
long. At six in the morning, he inquired the hour, 
and, on being informed, said that all went on reg- 
ularly, and he felt he had but a few hours to live. 

"At ten o'clock in the morning he parted from 
Cawston, saying, ' You should not detain Mr. Wind- 
ham's servant: — I thank you; bear my remem- 
brance to your master.' Cawston says that no man 
could appear more collected, more devout, or less 
terrified at the thoughts of the approaching minute. 

"This account, which is so much more agreeable 
than, and somewhat different from, yours, has given 

1 Servant to the Right Honourable William Windham. 



90 BOSWELVS LIFE OF JOHNSON 

us the satisfaction of thinking that that great man 
died as he hved, full of resignation, strengthened 
in faith, and joyful in hope." 

A few days before his death, he had asked Sir 
John Hawkins, as one of his executors, where he 
should be buried; and on being answered, "Doubt- 
less in Westminster Abbey," seemed to feel a satis- 
faction very natural to a poet; and indeed in my 
opinion very natural to every man of any imagina- 
tion, who has no family sepulchre in which he can 
be laid with his fathers. Accordingly, upon Mon- 
day, December 20, his remains were deposited in 
that noble and renowned edifice: and over his grave 
was placed a large blue flagstone with this inscription : 

''Samuel Johnson, LL.D. 

Obiit XIII die Decembris 

Anno Domini 

M. DCC. LXXXIV 

Matis suae LXXV." 

His funeral was attended by a respectable num- 
ber of his friends, particularly such of the members 
of the Literary Club as were then in town; and was 
also honoured with the presence of several of the 
Reverend Chapter of Westminster. Mr. Burke, 
Sir Joseph Banks, Mr. Windham, Mr. Langton, Sir 
Charles Bunbury, and Mr. Coleman, bore his pall. 
His schoolfellow. Dr. Taylor, performed the mourn- 
ful ofl^ce of reading the burial service. 

Vol. VI, p. 250. 



INDEX 

Addison, Joseph, his style compared with Johnson's, 17. 

Barber, Francis, in Johnson's will, 87. 

Beauclerk, Topham, 19. 

Boswell, James, first meeting with Johnson, 32; calls upon 
Johnson, 34; elected to the Literary Club, 52; accompanies 
Johnson to Scotland and the Hebrides, 53; praised by 
Johnson, 54, 71; his writing praised by Courtenay, 54; 
success in bringing Johnson and Wilkes together, 62; 
chaffed by Johnson, 69, 72; temporary coolness toward 
Johnson, 72; succeeds to his father's estate, 79. 

Bouffleurs, Madame de, visits Johnson, 60. 

Burke, Edmund, described, 61; pallbearer at Johnson's 
funeral, 90. 

Bute, Earl of, his part in securing a pension for Johnson, 29. 

Chambers, Catherine, parting with Johnson, 43. 

Charles II, described by Johnson, 57. 

Chesterfield, Lord, Johnson's letter to, concerning the Dic- 
tionary, 22. 

Davies, Thomas, described, 31; introduces Boswell and John- 
son, 32; tells story of Johnson and Foote, 56. 

Dictionary, Johnson's, 75. 

Dilly, Messieurs, give dinner at which Johnson and Wilkes 
meet, 63. 

Fleet St. House, inmates of, 74. 

Garrick, David, describes Johnson's wife, 15; goes to London 
with Johnson, 15; criticized by Johnson, 33; as an actor of 
Shakespeare, 45; praised by Johnson, 48, 62, 74; relates 
anecdote of Johnson in the playhouse at Lichfield, 55. 

Goldsmith, Oliver, described by Boswell, 35; by Johnson, 49, 

91 



92 INDEX 

50, 75; Vicar of Wakefield, 37; disputes with Johnson, 46, 
50; dedication of She Stoops to Conquer, 47; as an historian, 
51. 

Johnson, Elizabeth, described by Garrick, 15. 

Johnson, Michael, character of, 9; poHtical opinions, 11. 

Johnson, Samuel, birth, 9; memory, 11; touched by Queen 
Anne for scrofula, 11; impatience in reading or writing, 12 
character in college, 12; leaves college, 13; marriage, 13 
as a schoolmaster, 14; goes to London with Garrick, 15 
his style compared with Addison's, 17; acquaintance with 
Langton, 18; frohc with Langton and Beauclerk, 21; letter 
to Lord Chesterfield, 22; letter to the Chancellor of Oxford 
concerning the M. A., 24; letters to his mother, 25; granted 
a pension by George III, 28; letters to the Earl of Bute 
concerning his pension, 29, 30; account of the sale of The 
Vicar of Wakefield, 38; ideas on reading, 39, 40; answer to 
criticism of his pension, 39; discussion of the duty of main- 
taining rank, 40; described by Boswell, 41, 60, 76, by 
Kearsley, 76; his "Prayer before the Study of Law," 42; 
description of the Thrales, 42; farewell to Catherine Cham- 
bers, 43; mode of life, 45; disputes with Goldsmith, 46, 50; 
poHtical views, 47, 57, 77; praise of Garrick, 48, 74; opinion 
of Goldsmith, 51, 75; tour of the Hebrides, 53; courage, 55; 
letters to Boswell, 58, 78; tour of France, 58, 59; prejudice 
against Scotland, 62, 68, 77; meetings with Wilkes, 62, 69, 
76; prayer before studying Greek and Itahan, 70; unaffected 
by music, 70; opinion of Boswell, 71; opinion on drinking 
wine, 71; remark on the King of Siam and Louis XIV, 72; 
remark about compiling the Dictionary, 75; opinion of 
toleration, 75; advice to Boswell on becoming Lord Au- 
chinleck, 80; his prayer at leaving the Thrales', 81; kindness 
to servants and animals, 81; description of his illness, to 
Mrs. Thrale, 82; delight in speaking in his own style, 84; 
willingness to apologize when wrong, 84; kindness to the 
unfortunate, 85; his will, 86; last illness, 87; epitaph, 90. 

Johnson, Sarah, 9; death, 25. 



INDEX 93 

Langton, Benriet, described, 18; pallbearer at Johnson's 

funeral, 90. 
Literary Club, members of the, 53. 
London, cost of living in, 16. 
Rambler, admired by Langton, 18. 
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, opinion of the propriety of Johnson's 

accepting a pension, 28; executor of Johnson's will, 87. 
Scotland, visited by Johnson, 53; Johnson's prejudice against, 

62, 68, 77. 
Taxation No Tyranny, written at the desire of the party in 

power, 56. 
Thrales, the, described by Johnson, 42; tour of France with 

Johnson, 58, 59; Johnson's prayer at leaving, 81; Johnson's 

intimacy with, described by Mrs. Thrale, 85. 
Toleration, Johnson's opinion of, 75. 
Vicar of Wakefield, the, 37. 
Wilkes, John, meetings with Johnson, 62, 69, 76. 
WilHam, King, described by Johnson, 57. 
WilHams, Mrs., influence over Johnson, 65. 



MERRILL'S ENGLISH TEXTS 

Complete Editions 

Addison, Steele, and Budgell— Tlie Sir Roger de Coverley 

Papers in "'The Spectator" 30 

Browning — Poems (Selected) 25 

Bunyan— Pilgrim's Progress, Part T 40 

Burke— Speech on Conciliation with America 35 

Byron— Childe Harold, Canto rV, and The Prisoner of 

Chillon 25 

Carlyle— An Essay on Burns 25 

Coleridge— The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and other 

Poems 25 

Coleridge— The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Lowell 

—The Vision of Sir Launfal, Combined 40 

Defoe— Robinson Crusoe, Part 1 50 

De Quincey— Joan of Arc, and The English Mail Coach. . .25 

Dickens— A Tale of Two Cities 50 

Eliot, George— Silas Marner 40 

Emerson— Essays (Selected) 40 

Goldsmith— The Deserted Village, and other Poems 25 

Goldsmith-The Vicar of Wakefield 30 

Gray — Elegy in a Country Churchyard, and Goldsmith — 

The Deserted Village, Combined 30 

Hale— The Man Without a Country and My Double .25 

Hawthorne— The House of the Seven Gables. . . 40 

Homer-The Odyssey, Books VI to XIV, XVIHtoXXIV 

(English translation) 50 

Irving— The Sketch Book 50 

Lamb— Essays of Elia 50 

Lincoln— Selections 25 

Lowell -The Vision of Sir Launfal, and other Poems 25 

Macaulay— Essays on Lord Clive and Warren Hastings. . .40 

Macaulay— Essay on Samuel Johnson 25 

Macaulay— Lays of Ancient Rome, and Arnold — Sohrab 

and Rustum, Combined 30 

Milton— Lycidas, Comus, L'AUegro, II Penseroso, and 

other Poems 25 

Palgrave— Golden Treasury (First Series) 40 

Parkman-The Oregon Trail 50 

Poe— The Raven, Longfellow— The Courtship of Miles 

Standish, and Whittier— Snow-bound, Combined 25 

Scott— Ivanhoe 50 

Shakespeare — A Midsummer Night's Dream 25 

Shakespeare — As You Like It 25 

Shakespeare — Julius Caesar 25 

Shakespeare— King Henry V 25 

Shakespeare — Macbeth 25 

Shakespeare — Merchant of Venice .25 

Shakespeare— Twelfth Night 25 

Stevenson —An Inland Voyage and Travels with a Donkey .40 

Stevenson— Treasure Island 40 

Tennyson— Idylls of the King 30 

Thoreau— Walden 50 

Washington —Farewell Address, and Webster — ^Pirst and 

Second Bunker Hill Orations 25 



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